Judy- thank you for the faithful commenting. a mi invitado de habla hispana, gracias por los comentarios. Me alegra que lo estés disfrutando. For everyone else who has stayed faithfully watching and waiting for an update thank you for being patient. And I am sorry it took so long. I am back to my regular update of once a week.

9.30 Dragon 9 Wintermarch - Flemeth's hut

For the twentieth time today, I glanced at the man sitting and staring at the fire, refusing to speak. Or maybe not finding anything adequate to say in the situation.

He had a haggard look about him. Especially noticeable without armor and clothes sitting in a blanket draped around him like a dress with the end thrown over his shoulder.

His washed leathers were hanging out on a makeshift line to dry. The massive amount of blood that was on them had glued the garments to his body. Hiding the two wounds either he'd received before the Ogre attack or during our trek through the wilds.

It had been six days since the disaster of a battle with the Darkspawn. And three since that fateful morning in the trees.

Everyone but he and I died. All gave their lives just so Cailan Theirin could live and transported to safety. Their bravery and sacrifice had striped the king of the notion of glorious war. Now he was a defeated man staring at the fire wondering how things went wrong.

We had made it to the old grey warden ruins pursued by a group of ten darkspawn. Or rather hunted by them. I have a feeling they were toying with us.

There were several times they could have overtaken us. Supporting the King and throwing fireballs didn't work. And there was no place to leave him so I could fight that he wouldn't be attacked. And he seamed to be getting weaker.

Often, they didn't retreat farther than the range of my fireballs.

Somewhere after second day of the cat and mouse game I started asking for miracles from the Maker or Andraste. I would have prayed to any gods at that moment. Or maybe I did. I don't remember.

And someone answered. I didn't care who. I just said a quick thank you to whoever helped. And accepted the new companion. A black and grey a Mabari who killed three of the genlocks as he joined us.

Cailan leaned on him for a time while I put the fear of the Maker into the other Darkspawn.

That was the first time I had created an electrical storm. It hadn't killed all of them as much as I wished it had. But with the electric bolts, fire balls and ice blast there I was able to kill a total of four.

We had to deal with three of them still harassing us all the way to the chasiend hut. Or just outside of the magical wards.

The closer we got the farther back the darkspawn hung. These were two apostate mages I was grateful the Templars didn't get.

I felt the line of demarcation as we passed through the magic the Witch of the Wilds protected her home with.

I had called out to her. But no answer. I had guided the king over to the cot laid out. He hadn't looked too good. Even with all of the healing and potion kits I had given him I had no doubt he would have died.

But the Maker or whoever had answered my last prayer must have still been looking out for us. Because as I had been searching for Flemeth or her daughter Morrigan I found two vials of purple liquid lying on the table. Almost as if they had been left for me.

I had given the king both in rapid succession and then pushed him down on the cot with the command to sleep.

Speaking quietly to the Mabari I told him he was a good dog. I had wanted to reward him with a crunch but didn't have any. I treated his wounds with water and a healing balm.

I had a few of my own wounds needing care. But I was in better shape than most of my companions as I was constantly chewing on elf root as others needed the refined potions to survive.

I had removed the two arrows. Tears streaming down my face as I pulled the barbed wood from my hip, and calf. It took a half a day to recuperate.

I had been right when I thought they were toying with us. The location of the wound told me that. I was grateful that they did but they should have just killed us and been done with it. Now behind the wards we were safe. Until Flemeth returned.

Which led me to this moment. His Majesty asked what happened for the fifth time. Each time he asked about a different element of the battle. Some of it made sense to me much of it didn't with my lack of battle knowledge.

His last question was about the Regent and why he didn't join the battle. He had gotten angry and told me I didn't know what I was talking about, when I said the man was a traitor. Loghain would never quit the field.

He made excuses for the Regent trying to convince himself that Teyrn Loghain didn't see the signal on the tower. He didn't speak again after I told him about Morien and his sacrifice or Duncan's death.

After getting the potions I was able to heal his Majesty without the Witch's help. Which led me to wonder exactly how long we should stay here. I didn't want to overstay hospitality especially with someone powerful enough to make wards to keep Darkspawn out. While the King slept, I left the hound with him and went hunting.

It was a disaster. Even with both Duncan's and Aedan's help it wasn't a skill I learned. I came back with two half burned rabbits which I only caught by throwing wild fireballs at. Which somehow, I was going to figure out how to make a stew with.

The hound on the other hand decided that wasn't going to be his dinner. He whined and shook his head as if trying to get water out of his coat. Frustrated I told him if he could do better, I'd like to see it.

Twenty minutes later I am dressing or trying to dress the charred rabbit and the dog struts into camp dropping a mouthful of rabbits at my feet.

I huff in annoyance and turn quizzically at the sound coming from across the fire. His Majesty is laughing so hard he is gasping for air. Of course, the man would sleep through my heroic saving of his life and be awake for the mutilation of his dinner. And subsequent humiliation by a hound.

"Fade take both of you," I snapped angrily.

The Mabari cringed, flattened his ears, and whined.

"I am sorry, boy. I wasn't angry at you. Just that you could hunt better than I could. Thank you for the gift. You are a mighty hunter, and your kills are in splendid shape.

He leans forward barks happily and butts his head into my sore hip. I put a hand on his large head and scratch between his black ears. Which satisfies him. It's now that I realize he is the hound I helped when I first arrived at Ostagar.

"Fade take you. Is that a mage thing? I've never heard the fade spoken about so casually. We are led to believe it is too scary of a place to be mentioned outside of a circle." Cailan said his voice getting stronger the more he talked.

I picked up the six rabbits by the ears and tossed the largest one to the hound who'd laid at the king's feet.

"More or less. It's safe from the wrath of the Chantry." I grinned weakly.

"Do tell," Calian said stretching some of the stiffness from his body as they talked.

"The Revered Mother at the tower used to get angry when the Templars would swear using Andraste's name or the Maker's. She felt it was a sin and disrespectful.

The Templars got away with it because the Knight Commander wasn't about to let a priest tell him how to discipline his men. The First Enchanter who tried to keep the peace allowed the priest to set punishments. As my teacher was the First Enchanter, I was made an example out of. My sentence was to recite the entire chant three times.

The Knight Commander felt sorry for me and the first Templar using Andraste's sword was stuck teaching me the lines of the chant. When I was done, I had more respect for Cullen Rutherford's patience and faith than the Priest's."

"Here let me do that. We want rabbit to eat. And I saw how badly you mangled what was left of the last two." Cailan said walking across our makeshift camp.

With a disgusted sound I shrug and pass him the obsidian dagger and the rabbits. I acted if I didn't appreciate the help but really this outdoor stuff was not one of my strengths. I longed for the tower walls and soft beds even with all the Templars.

I plunged my hands into the blow of water and sand I used to clean up after my first try. "Can you? Doesn't the king have servant who do that for him."

He grinned good naturedly slicing without hesitation into the rabbit. "Have you known a king who can't hunt? The first rule of hunting is skinning and dressing the kill. Or only hunt what you can eat. I don't remember which of them is first or second."

I find myself smiling as well as I look at him. His color is coming back. He will probably be completely healed once we get a good meal in him. But I can still see the shadow of haunt in his eyes and the sunken checks beneath the golden beard that has grown out from the stubble.

"No Ser. But since you're the first King I've ever met," I taunt.

I crossed over to the spot by the fire the was originally. I thought about sitting on the cot we used when we first arrived, but I wasn't quite ready for sleep. I was starving and didn't want to miss the meal.

Cailan shakes his head as he deftly debones the game the Mabari hunted. He wasn't sure what to do with the skin, fur and other bits that didn't go into the pot. Back at the castle the pieces were used to train the litters. "What is your Mabari's name?

I yawn as I try to make myself a little more comfortable. The dog has come over and sat down beside me. All I need to do is lean and I have a head and back rest. "I don't know. His previous master was killed in a skirmish and he had become ill. While I was in the wilds, I was able to find a flower that helped him get better. I was supposed to talk to the kennel master about imprinting after the battle."

Sounds like he knew you were responsible for saving him and he chose you. Which means it's up to you to name him."

"I don't know. His last master…"

"Is dead and you can't keep call him dog or boy."

"You make a good point. It would be too much like calling you king. What did you name your first hound?"

"Snuffles."

I opened my eyes and measured him trying to figure out if he was teasing me or did, he really name the poor beast that. I guessed it couldn't be any worse than the tabby in the tower known as Mouser. "All right but that fellow needs some more noble than snuffles. What about King or Prince?"

I laughed when I saw the expression on his face. "Wait. I know if he can't be a King, he can be a Teyrn. He is noble enough. He took care of us, found food, and came to our rescue."

'Agreed. So, what is he Teyrn of?"

I yawn again my eyes closing and I mumble "Of Ferelden… all of it."

Cailan looked at the hound propping the sleeping mage up and shook his head. "You understand boy, a King of Ferelden is nothing more than a Teyrn that all the other Banns, Arls and Teyrns agree to serve. Right? Just so you know you can't have the throne. Although you would probably do better at it than I did."

Teyrn barked in agreement softly so as not to wake his new mistress.