My Spanish speaking guest... I think it is a little more subtle in the game than here. But his response was based on two things. Relief that she wasn't dead and shared loss of Duncan. Also he is a 20 year old male and the chasiend Robes leave little to the imagination. ;) Judy- Faithful as ever... thank you.

Alistair could smell the scent of the roasted meat. It was the one thing that let him know he was traveling in the right direction carrying their looted items.

Morrigan and he were left to carry all the junk by virtue of lots. But the evil witch hag left him hauling all of it as she needed her hands free to protect them and the dwarves that found them.

"Maker's breath, please tell me there is more of that delicious smelling meat. My stomach is beginning to think my throat has been cut and I am never going to feed it again."

"Follow Morien, I will help the others get this into the camp."

"Wait. King Cailan's armor, King Maric's sword and Duncan's daggers are in there. I want to make sure that they don't get put in the pile for selling."

"Got it. Keep the pretentious gold armor and the special swords. Now go eat. Morien and Teyrn took two hours to bring that bull down and prepare him for the meal. We wouldn't want you dying from starvation here in camp."

"Hey now," Alistair responded to my good-natured ribbing.

I watched the two brothers walk towards the center of camp and turned my attention to the litter with the piece of armor and weapons. I picked up the poles and pulled. And it didn't budge. I knew I didn't have a lot of strength, but this was ridiculous. I tried again. Nothing. I turned around and pulling it behind me.

I switched positions for the third time and yanked as hard as I could. I was sure if I could get the momentum going then I would be fine. And as the wooden pole slide from my hands, I found myself in the dirt on my arse and Aedan braying at me like an ass.

I stood and glared at the condescending noble and my palms itched to cast the spell Winter's Breath on him. But I didn't want a repeat of the man in the cell. I didn't know if I would ever be able to use ice again.

Teyrn took sympathy on me and left Cailan's knee where the treats were coming from and with his teeth grabbed the material of the litter and started tugging. Between the two of us, we probably moved it several inches when the large metallic skinned warrior took mercy on me.

He easily dragged the scrap equipment over to the cart and dwarves. He dropped the litter on the ground not giving me a second thought as took his place by the fire. I wondered if that was his way of saying he was no longer upset by the burns from earlier.

I thanked Sten and received a grunt. The man truly didn't talk. I had asked him to tell me about himself and he said, "no." Nothing else. Leliana had told me not to worry it was just his way.

Teyrn feeling his job was done when back to his place at Cailan and Alistair's feet waiting for a morsel to drop.

I on the other hand started picking thorough the heaps of weapons trying to find a sword that didn't take both hands to lift and I could swing it like I did the branch. So far, I wasn't finding any.

"Andraste's Mercy, Rhiannon. You're a Mage. You shouldn't be playing with those," Alistair said jumping out of the way as I swung the dagger in a circle finding it not too heavy.

"Playing? I have you know, Morien is teaching me." I grumbled.

Alistair gave a measured look at the man who'd come up behind us. He wasn't sure how he felt about the Kings Guard. To be sure he didn't like the familiarity he had with the Grey Wardens. Although he couldn't fault the man for saving her. "Why would a mage need to know about sword work?"

"Because a Templar decided to take away my magic and leave me at the mercy of a couple of thugs."

"Then I know the perfect blade for you. And Duncan would approve." Alistair shifted through the pile of weaponry, setting aside a long sword with runes running down the entire blade. He made a noise of happiness and pulled a weapon with a twelve-inch blade.

He handed it to me. It was covered in a black sticky substance and I almost couldn't tell that the blade was red beneath the ooze. But the three-pound blade was slightly familiar.

"I understand you didn't know Duncan as long as I did. But you were important to him. I know that he would want you to have this."

I was humbled at both Alistair's willingness to give me something that clearly meant a lot to him. And the depth of feeling. But I didn't think it was fair to take something like that from him when I already had a piece of Duncan. I tried to make things right.

"Thank you, Alistair. But you should take this. When I left the Tower and Duncan found out I had nothing he gave me his dagger to use. I tried to give it back to him when we got to Ostagar. But he told me to keep it until after the battle. So, I still have that, but you have nothing."

"I have you… and Aedan and that is better than a short sword that I can't use. After the blight is done, I am going to Highover where I think he had family. If you wanted to you could join me. Aedan too if he wanted. I think he would like that."

I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. He had just compared me to a sword. Which for a warrior was one of the most important pieces of equipment he would own. I threw myself against his mailed chest ignoring the dried grime and gore to hug my fellow warden. There were only a few moments until I felt his weight shift and his arms wrap around me.

We are returning to Kirkwall next chapter.