With the sun just barely brushing the treetops, the small group of companions set out across the Imperial Highway. Sherpard breathed the fresh air deeply, smiling slightly at the cool breeze. How long has it been since she just took a moment to appreciate her surroundings? Thedas was as incredibly familiar as it was strange. The trees and foliage were so close to those bordering the Alliance base on Vancouver that it made her chest ache with nostalgia, and the sights and scents reminded her of something out of an old history vid. If she closed her eyes she could almost pretend she was back in the academy, learning survival in the mountain forests.

A cacophony of distressed squeaks broke her revere as suddenly an odd hairless mole came bleating out from the underbrush. Aidens large dog Ham was in hot pursuit. Deftly she sidestepped the animals, watching in amusement as it careened into Morrigan instead.

"You fool dog!" Angrily the dark haired woman whipped her hand forward pointing at the small creature. With a crack, electricity shot forward, just barely missing it's target as the little animal made a mad dash for the bushes.

Shepard jerked in surprise. "How did you do that?"

Yellow eyes flicked to her own in annoyance. "What?"

She gestured to Morrigan's hands. "That electrical pulse. How did you do that? Do you have an Omni?" At the other woman's confused look she activated her own tool, showing the holographic display. Keenly she felt the eyes of the others zero in on her arm. "I can fire a similar pulse with this, but not with my bare hands." To demonstrate she activated the Overload protocol, sending a sparkling spat of electricity at a nearby tree.

Immediately Morrigan moved closer, her fingers ghosting through the orange holo interface. "How curious. I can clearly see the effects of your power and yet not a single ripple across the Veil. What manner of device is this?" She demanded, snapping her hands back. On her sides the others drew around them, hands lingering near their weapons.

"Alistair?" this from Aiden.

An exasperated sigh left Alistair's lips. "I told you, she's not a mage." Annoyed, he gestured to Morrigan. "Much as I hate to agree with her on principle, in this case, she's right. Not even the teensiest tingle of the Fade."

"Then how?" This from Sten, the tall warrior finally deigning to meet Shepard's eyes.

Surprised, she met his gaze directly. "As Morrigan guessed, it's my device. My Omni-tool. They're standard issue where I'm from, though this one does have military upgrades." She shrugged, opening the display to show a list of the tools features. Carefully she watched their expression. Looks like their written language is different, no recognition. She hummed softly as she dropped her gaze back to the interface. "It contains access to a few defense protocols, information and translation tools, my favourite music, some vids..."

Leliana immediately perked up. "Did you say music?"

"Forget the music!" This from Aiden as he crowded against her side. "How is it made? Is it dangerous? Could you make more?" Peering around her shoulder he tried to get a better look at her arm.

Shepard gently nudged him aside, deactivating the interface. "Sorry, that information is against first contact protocols, but if you're wondering how to access it you can't." She rapped her arm guard lightly. "It's implanted under my skin."

"Eeeewwww, under your skin?"

Shepard immediately rolled her eyes at Alistair's distraught face. "I've got a lot more tech than my Omni under here." Ignoring the alarmed looks thrown her way she gestured out to the forest. "One thing it does do is map locations. According to this, the crash site should be just through here and then across the ravine." She pointed to the trail of smashed bushes. "There is a pretty good chance those darkspawn will still be in the area, right?"

"They are close," Aiden agreed, pulling back from her. "but we're in no danger of encountering the group you two ran from yesterday. They've moved beyond our range for now."

She frowned in return. "How could you possibly know that?"

Pulling alongside her Alistair made a sparkling motion with his fingers. "It's part of what makes us Grey Wardens so special!"

Rolling his eyes, Aiden simply nudged them both forward, content to drop the issue of the Omni for now. "As Alistair said. We'd know."

Shepard simply nodded and folded in behind the two men. Immediately Leliana slid into the space at her side, enthusiastically asking about her music. Willing to oblige but not play it out loud, the two women discussed common music back and forth, Shepard carefully omitting anything that couldn't have been heard at a medieval faire.

As they marched forward she relaxed. She wasn't sure if the eclectic group was the norm in Ferelden, but the assembled people certainly made for a mishmash of personalities. How they all managed not to kill each other was a mystery. Even now, striding in the red light of early dawn they bickered and sniped at each other as they relaxed into routine. A smile curled her lips. If she closed her eyes she could almost imagine she was amongst her own crew.

All too soon they came to the ravine from the day before. Zevran let out an impressed whistle as he leaned over the edge, using his toe to nudge a rock over the side. With a raised eyebrow he turned to Alistair and herself.

"How did you two cross this again?"

"With a lot of screaming." Against his side Alistair leaned closer, face paling at the sheer drop. "You know, I don't remember this being quite so steep." Quickly he took a step back, gesturing to Shepard. "Anyway, don't look at me, she was the one who got us across."

All eyes turned to her as she scouted closer. This close, the cliff face was impressive highlighting the massive river cutting through the forest nestled nearly a hundred meters below. "I used a biotic charge, but I wouldn't want to do that over and over again." Carefully she eyed the distance and turned back to the group clustered behind her. "Do we all need to go?"

Aiden shifted uneasily. "How many can you take?"

Shepard shrugged, running her fingers contemplatively along the edge. "I wouldn't want to carry you each across but I think I could Lift most of you." She turned to Shale and Sten. "Would probably be best if you two and Ham stayed here. I could get you over but it would be a lot of effort." The mabari gave a soft whuf at that, head lowering. "Oh like you wouldn't find that scary?"

The golem immediately fixed her with an unimpressed glare. "Is it saying I am fat?"

Leliana stepped forward. "There there, I am sure that is not what the commander meant to imply at all!"

"You sure about that?"

"Alistair!"

The tall warden chuckled, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.

With a grumpy harumph Shale turned away, stomping to stand by an outcropping of trees. "If the warden wants to go with the strange woman, so be it. I am more than happy to wait here while it risks it's soft head."

Sten nodded. "Indeed. The plan seems will await you here, warden."

Shepard clapped her hands together as she stood. "Alright, then it's settled." Straightening, she met Aidens eyes. "Is that okay with you?"

He hesitated for a moment before tipping his head in agreement. "How exactly do you plan to move us over?"

At that Shepard smirked. "All you have to do is stand there and look pretty and I'll do the rest. Just trust me." At their skeptical looks she paused, meeting each of their eyes. "What would I gain by dropping any of you down the cliff? Now. Who's first?"

The following silence stretched awkwardly as she waited. Beside her Alistair cleared his throat. "Guess it's got to be me, hasn't it?"

More silence and then: "You are the one who advocated for her in the first place." Aiden pointed out.

Letting out a sigh Alistair turned to face her. "Alright, alright." He stooped forward to meet her eyes. "Just so you know? You'd better not drop me, or I'll return from Beyond to haunt you." With that dire threat he straightened, moving closer to the edge and holding an arm out in Shepard's direction. "Alright! Let's do this… lifting."

"Alistair?"

"Yeeeeesss?"

Shepard fought a smile at his tone. "You can lower the arm, it's not that type of lifting. Best also leave the heavy pack with the tent here."

He blinked before quickly unstrapping it. "Well that sure isn't boosting my confidence in your abilities if my pack is too heavy."

Ignoring him she activated her biotics. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

With that she carefully surrounded him in a Lift field. Immediately she heard the others shuffle and mutter, cautious hands hovering over weapons at the strange display of power. Maneuvering him over the gap steadily, he reached the other side with a gentle thump.

"Alright my friend?" This from Zevran as he pulled his pack off and left it by Stens feet.

Alistair gave them a brief thumbs up before shouting, "It was so tingly!"

"Tingly?" Zevran shook his head and turned to Shepard. "My turn now, yes?"

She nodded and grabbed him, ignoring the slight twist in his body as he defied gravity. Under other circumstances the terrified expression on his face would have amused her, but for now it just served to have her focus more securely. As she deposited him safely on the other side she gestured to the next person, Lifting them one after the other across the chasm until finally the bulk of the group was standing on the other side. At that she paused, meeting their gazes.

Aiden met her eyes and shouted, "I don't know if you thought about this before Shepard, but we can't exactly lift you across."

"I know!" She stepped back, preparing herself for a Charge. "You might all want to stand clear!"

Immediately she heard Alistair's worried curses, "Andraste's ass, move back people!" He waved his arms at them to push them further away from the edge.

Smiling, she charged forward, her stomach swooping as the ground disappeared below her feet. As time slowed she caught the shocked expressions on the group's faces, frozen in awe and a small bit of fear. Gracefully she landed before their feet. Suppressing her own smug smirk at their slack jawed expressions she gestured them with a sweep of her hands. "Onwards?"

A beat of silence and then Morrigan was there, yellow eyes wide. "What manner of magic is it that you possess? I've never seen the like!"

Shepard opened her mouth to reply when Aiden abruptly stepped forward swiftly cutting her off with an accusing glance at Alistair. "Maker, you never said she could do things like that!"

Immediately the other man scowled. "I told you she flew!"

"I thought you were exaggerating!" Aiden threw his hands skyward in annoyance. "You also told me you were raised by a pack of giant, slobbering, flying dogs from the Anderfels! Should I have taken your word at that too?!"

Alistair smirked, "Devout flying dogs, actually."

With a growl Aiden stepped forward chest nearly brushing the taller wardens.

"Enough!" Shaking her head with a faint grunt Shepard simply pushed past the group, cutting off the broiling argument brewing between the two wardens. "Biotics. Not magic. Is this really how Grey Wardens act?" At their shamed faces she spun around. They are like brand new recruits. Fresh off from zero G training. she thought disparagingly. Opening her Omni she brought up the display for the shuttle location, focusing intently on the faint pulse and ignoring the lingering awkward atmosphere. "It's this way, let's move people." Quickly she marched through the underbrush, listening as the others slowly fell in line behind her.

It wasn't long before they pushed into a clearing full of destroyed trees and blackened metal, the ground dark and tainted. Shepard frowned at the sight of the dying foliage and activated her scanner. She needed to find the components of the shuttle's comms array quickly.

"What exactly is it we are looking for here?" came Leliana's soft question. The bard was slowly walking around, eyes noting the scattered shrapnel with keen interest.

Shepard breathed out a quick curse and turned to the others, projecting a 3D display of the component. "This is what we're looking for. It's a small device." She rotated it as the others clustered around her arm, expressions ranging from fearful to fascinated. "It should have been in the shuttle's main body, though I don't actually see any signs of it in the area." And it was true. For all the shrapnel and destruction there was nothing of the main structure.

"Uhm, Shepard?" Alistair gestured for her attention, his head tilted back towards the sky. The others clustered around him as he pointed upward. "Is… that your shuttle?"

Blinking in surprise she followed his outstretched arm. There, high in the trees, was the husk of her Alliance transport. The blue and white paint was stark against the green foliage now that she was looking for it. Zevran let out a slew of curses as she pushed past him, approaching the base of the tree with her hands on her hips.

"That is your shuttle? The thing that flies you to space?" He pointed at it in alarm. "It's real? Brasca!"

Aiden let out a quiet breath, eyes wide in surprise. "Maker's breath it's real."

"I have never seen such a thing in my life!" This from Morrigan as she quickly approached the thruster dangling low on one of the branches. "What manner of sorcery creates something like this?"

"Not sorcery, tech." Shepard sighed as the others promptly ignored her, studying the mess of wires and scrap dangling above them. "Alright, back up people, I need to bring down this tree."

Alistair whipped his head to face her. "What? How do you propose we do that, exactly? None of us thought we would need an axe!"

Leliana nodded in agreement. "If we went back to Sten, perhaps we could bring back some of our supplies? It would take some time though, no?"

Aiden cut them off. "No, we don't have time to cut down the tree. Can't you just charge up there?" He gestured to the open compartment on the side. "Just get in there, grab what you need, and we can go."

Immediately Shepard shook her head. "I can't leave the shuttle intact like this. It has to be destroyed after I search it. Less damage to the surroundings if I set the core detonation on the ground."

Morrigan stepped forward defensively. "Destroyed? Why would you do such a thing? Think of the wealth of knowledge we could learn from it!"

"Exactly." At that Shepard gestured to the others. "Move it or lose it people."

Grudgingly they moved from the tree's base, cautious faces watching as she activated her biotics. Ignoring their lingering glances she hit the trunk with a Reave, waiting for the biotic field to extend around the base. Satisfied, she called out to the others, "Might want to cover your eyes!"

"Cover our-?"

Throwing forward a Warp she reared back, the liquid heat of the detonation mixing with the surge of sound as the shuttle came careening to rest on the ground.

"Andraste…."

Turning back she met the stunned gaze of her companions. "The part, we don't have all day right?" Swiftly she moved into the compartment, tool out and scanning. Behind her she heard the others enter slowly.

"Brace yourself, people." At their questioning hum she activated the shuttle's auxiliary power.

Immediately lights flickered on along the interior, a soft female voice beginning to drone : "This is Alliance shuttle, designation NSI-17C. It appears we have suffered catastrophic engine failure after an unplanned descent. Please contact you local-" Shepard quickly shut off the annoying VI, turning back to see the terror on the faces of the people behind her.

"It's just the computer." She told them cautiously. Instantly she wanted to slap herself. How were they supposed to know what a computer was? Why didn't she just leave them behind and go alone? Hadn't she broken enough first contact protocols already?

Zevran flinched. "Computer?"

"It's alive?!" Concerned Aiden backed out near the door. "Is this some manner of… of living thing?" Immediately the others, except Morrigan, started shuffling towards the exit.

Shepard shook her head. "No, it's not alive. It's machinery, like a mill! Or a grind stone!"

A pause and then Alistair turned to her with wide brown eyes. "Pretty sure none of the mills I've ever encountered talked…"

Annoyed, she blew out a breath. "It's not alive. If you're all uncomfortable, wait outside. The comm array should just be over here. Let me grab it, and then we can leave."

Quickly she shoved aside the crashed seats and collapsed door, peeling back the wall housing the array with brute strength. As she heaved over the hinge she froze as she glimpsed inside the compartment. In a cruel twist of fate, everything was crushed, nearly to the point of powder. Slowly she lowered herself to her knees, hands scooping out the charred remains shakily.

Next to her Zevran peered into the dark space. "Is that it? Was it not supposed to look like the thing you showed us earlier?" At his look, her shoulders hunched defensively.

"It's broken, and I'm no engineer. There is nothing for me here. I'll have to find another way to contact the Alliance."

"Does that mean we can leave?" Alistair asked, hands flitting nervously. "No offense to you but this thing is creepy."

She sighed. "Yeah we can leave, let me just set the self-destruct."

Morrigan sneered at her from her position near the cockpit. "A waste." She turned to Aiden. "Will you really allow her to destroy this?"

Shepard cut him off before he could open his mouth. "It's not about allowing. I will destroy this. Now get out. All of you."

Indignant, Aiden scowled at her. "We are not your soldiers, commander." Shaking his head he gestured the others out the door before ducking through himself, Morrigan following last with a furious glare.

Quickly she set the detonation pulse. It would destroy the shuttle without harming the nearby forest, but more importantly would leave nothing useful to salvage. Climbing out she met the wary stares of the others. "It's done, we have a Circle to get to, right?"

Aiden nodded stoically and set off back through the forest, the others slowly filtering behind. For a time they walked in silence until the deafening boom of the shuttle destructing sent them momentarily reeling.

Alistair met her eyes, alarmed. "Was that the…?"

"Yes."

"Ah…." He shuffled back around, matching her steps. "Well! I for one am glad to be done with that. Aren't you? I'm sure the mages at the tower will still be able to help you contact your space friends!"

Giving him a brief nod Shepard matched the pace of the others. As they traveled back towards the ravine she mulled over and discarded various plans. Eventually someone from the alliance will come for me. They would have received the shuttle's location when it crashed, wouldn't they? As soon as they hit atmo they should be able to track my tools signal. Aggravated, she let out a huff. Who knew how long that would take? And she would have to fix the tools comm array too. Turning to the others she asked "You've all mentioned this Circle and the mages before. You think they can help me?"

Aiden met her question with an incline of his head. "The Circle is where the mages in Ferelden live. Beyond a place to practice magic, they also learn enchanting and ruin crafting." He gestured to her arm, "If anyone can fix whatever is stopping you from contacting your friends, it's them."

Shepard frowned, confused. "Why are they all at the Circle? Is it some sort of school? Voluntary military service?"

Morrigan immediately let out a mean laugh. "Voluntary? My, but you must truly be from the heavens to think such a thing."

Alistair stepped in, blocking Shepards view of the other woman. "The Circle is mandatory for anyone born with magic. They're taken by the Templars once it manifests and stay there for their entire lives. It's a place where they can learn to control their powers and be kept safe from the rest of the population."

Immediately Morrigan stepped into his face, sneering. "Spoken like a true Templar."

" Ex-Templar." he drawled in return.

"Wait, wait." Shepard leaned around his side to catch the faces of the others. "Are you telling me these Circles are essentially prisons for those born with magic?"

Hesitantly Leliana nodded. "It is as the Chantry says. Magic exists to serve man, never to rule over him." At Shepard's incredulous look the bard frowned defensively.

"One must only look to the Tevinter Imperium to see why such a system has come to be." Zevran told her. "Surely it is better for the many, the elves there would agree, no?" He quirked an eyebrow in faint amusement as Morrigan reddened.

Reeling Shepard let out a quick breath. She had stumbled into quite the accidental minefield. "Than what?" she asked hesitantly.

"Death at birth?"

Morrigan scoffed, yellow eyes narrowing. "How easy to say when it is not you being corralled like cattle, hunted your entire life for the thing that you are! That is what an apostate is." at that she met Shepard's eyes. "An illegal mage, living free from the influence of the Chantry and their Templars."

"Oh and I suppose the risk of possession and blood magic should be fine for everyone else to deal with?" This from Aiden.

Shepard stepped in then, shouldering the tensions suddenly building around her. "The Chantry? Your religion? Is that what a Templar is? A specialized jailor?"

Alistair shrugged, affecting the same clinical tone as her. "More or less. The Chantry trains and outfits the Templars who specialize in disrupting and draining mana. However, the Chantry also feeds it's Templars lyrium. And seeing how the Chantry controls the lyrium trade with the dwarves… well… I'm sure you can put two and two together."

"Shit." she muttered in return. She rubbed her head as an ache bloomed behind her eyes. "This is all really fucked up."

Morrigan met her eyes then. "You have nothing similar in your star home?"

Shepard shook her head. "We did, and sometimes still do. Biotics for example. Wasn't too long ago we were being locked up in a similar way, and even today we have to be registered." Letting out a sigh she caught the other woman's gaze. "It never ends well when institutions stomp on the rights of others. It always blows up in their face eventually."

Aiden laughed darkly. "Hasn't yet." He let out a grunt and walked faster. "Enough of this political talk, let's just get back to the others."

The others all seemed to mutually agree and fell into silence as they quickly traveled the remaining distance to the ravine. Shepard furrowed her brow as they arrived. With a wave to Sten and Shale she quickly set to work lifting the others back across.

As she Charged back across she heard Sten ask Aiden, "Your mission, was it successful?"

Shepard ducked her head in embarrassment as he replied, "No, just a waste of time."

Schooling her features into a blank mask she ignored Alistair's concerned stare as she matched the others as they pressed back toward the Highway.

Time passed slowly as they walked along the rustic Ferelden countryside, punctuated briefly with the occasional farm cart or animal. The quiet was disrupted as both Alistair and Aiden stiffened.

"Are we expecting an attack?" she asked, hands drifting to her helmet. To her eye nothing had changed. The surrounding forest was as quiet and tranquil as ever.

Aiden turned his head slightly, regarding her from the corner of his eye. "You can never be too careful whilst traveling the countryside. After all, Alistair and I are wanted men."

A snort behind them caused them both to turn. "I see only one worthy of the title of Grey Warden here." Morrigan told them. Since their argument in the forest the mage had cooled considerably to the bulk of the party.

"Oh, that was directed at me I take it?" Alistair asked, placing a mocking hand against his breastplate. "How you wound me."

Shepard quirked an eyebrow at their antics, glancing at Aiden to see if he'd resolve the matter. Instead, the warden had turned away, already several paces ahead of where they had stopped. With a sigh she regarded both Morrigan and Alistair. "What are you two doing?"

"Um... is that a trick question?"

She frowned, crossing her arms across her chest. "Both of you are here to stop this, Blight, right?" at their nods she continued, "And that means you have to work together. As much as you might hate each other, all this arguing and needling needs to stop. From both of you." At Morrigan's indignant expression and Alistair's snapped open mouth Shepard swiftly cut her hand through the air. "Now."

They both turned to her with mutinous glares until Morrigan let out a huff. "As you wish. Avoiding this fools company, tis hardly a burden." With a shake of her head she strode past them.

"Oh would you look at that! You got her to shut up!" Alistair grinned at her impishly, brown eyes dancing in the morning light. His smile waned as he took in Shepard's unimpressed look. "Right, no more arguing with the crazy apostate. Got it." He flashed her a wink and mock pouted. "But she started it."

With an exasperated sigh Shepard resumed walking, watching as Alistair fell into step beside her. "And you're blameless, right? How would you feel in her shoes?"

He gripped his chin in mock contemplation. "Probably… cold? Have you seen what she's wearing? Brrrr."

"Alistair." Shepard sighed. He affected a wounded pout in return. "Am I right in assuming Aiden is in charge? How has he not talked to you two about this?"

Alistair shrugged absentmindedly, turning his eyes to regard the sky. "Well… here's the thing. Technically speaking, I'm Aiden's superior in rank. Funny thing that." He shot her a quick glance between lowered lashes, watching the appalled expression grow across her face.

"Is that so? You could have fooled me. Why aren't you taking charge then?" she demanded. At his silence, Shepard tapped his arm. "Alistair?"

He hesitated, eyes flickering everywhere but on her. "I…reallydontlikeleading! IdloosemypantsandtheBlightwouldtakeouteverythingandthatwouldbeawful!"

She blinked at his flushing face in confusion. "What?"

He cringed beneath her scrutiny. "I'm not exactly what you would call leader material."

She frowned, "It is better to have a leader suited to the position than force it on someone due to seniority."

Alistair nodded vigorously. "Exactly! See! You understand right?"

She gestured to the other man and turned back to Alistair. "How long has he been a warden for?"

Silence and then, "Oh, you know… a month or so?"

Shepard froze, stunned. "Hold on a moment. Explain this to me because I don't think I understand. How long have you been a warden?"

Immediately Alistair cringed. "Ohh… about 7 months?"

She sputtered, seizing his arm."Are you telling me you're the only person in the wardens of any significant rank, In the whole country? Not only that, but during an event that could change your entire world, and you passed all the decision making off to someone who has only been a soldier for a month?" She shook his arm firmly. "Why!?"

Behind them Sten snorted in irritation. "He does not have a spine, do not waste your breath." With that the qunari shoved his way past them.

Alistair frowned at his retreating back. "That isn't true in the slightest." he muttered sullenly. Hesitantly he glanced at her, eyes flickering nervously. "I do contribute to decisions! I just don't… make the final one." He stared at her beseechingly. "I don't know what we should do!" At her glare he swallowed, scratching the back of his head. "Aiden is far more capable than I could ever be. Really. He has the whole leader thing down to a science." Reaching down he peeled her hands off him. "This habit you have of grabbing people is really quite prevalent isn't it?" he asked.

Her mouth compressed into a thin line, grudgingly matching his pace as he walked forward. "Avoiding my question won't make it go away."

"That would be nice though, wouldn't it?" He smiled charmingly for effect, face cringing at her deadpanned expression. He let out a loud sigh. "Everything would go to the Void if I had to make the choices." He shrugged his massive shoulders, plate armor and all.

Shepard glared, mouth open in a snarl. No matter what occurred, she always did her duty, whether to the Alliance, the Council, or even Cerberus. Neither Aiden nor Alistair should have been making these decisions alone. Catching sight of Alistair's scared brow eyes she closed her mouth with a click. Yelling wouldn't solve whatever made him so afraid of responsibility. "Alistair, why do you think that? Have you had previous issues with taking command?"

"No! No! I just… it's just…" He shook his head helplessly. "I don't want to be responsible I suppose. And what do I know anyway? All those lives and there I am without a single useful thought and…" he paused, head jerking up.

Shepard scowled darkly, ignoring his alert expression. "Alistair, that's how everyone feels, that doesn't mean that-"

Abruptly he seized her, swinging his shield from his back. "Darkspawn!" he shouted, wrenching her behind him. From the surrounding trees the rotten creatures poured, arrows hurtling towards them in droves. The party reacted instantly, rushing to meet them head on. "Stay back." Alistair ordered her abruptly. With a cry he rushed forward, sword swinging in tandem with his shield, drawing the creatures to him in waves.

Shepard breathed out, annoyed. With a click she sealed her helmet, watching a giant like the one that had trashed her shuttle crash through the trees. Around it the smaller creatures rushed forward, opening a path for it towards an unaware Aiden. She reacted instantly, rushing past Morrigan with her now flaming staff, throwing a Pull at the creature. It growled enraged as its feet shuddered forward amongst the mossy ground, turning its attention from the warden dancing around it's feet with his daggers.

"Get clear!" she ordered, watching as Aiden rolled out of the way.

A feral grin twisted her lips as she signed the mnemonic for Charge, feeling the ripple of eezo beneath her skin. The rush of air, the boom of breaking the sound barrier, it was exhilarating, the adrenaline of battle canceling out everything else. The biotic detonation ripped through the forest, incinerating the giant and its smaller compatriots within the blast radius. Shepard smiled already using her Omni-blade to take the head off the squat, rotten thing attempting to sneak up on her. Carefully she left her shotgun holstered, no need for it yet.

Around her she could feel the battle turning in their favor as again and again she assaulted the small army intent on their demise, the boom of her Shockwaves and Nova's cancelling out all cries of battle until the last enemy fell.

As the last creature collapsed, shrieking to Sten's powerful blade, she reached up, pulling her helmet off to re-clip it to her belt, the rush of cool air blowing against her sweaty hair. With the buzz of battle fading she became aware of the absolute stillness of the others. They surrounded her in a circle, weapons still drawn almost hesitantly. Alistair stood next to Aiden and Leliana, their faces a combination of shock and fear.

Aiden stepped forward quietly, eyes wide with surprise and a little awe. "Maker above, seeing you cross the ravine was one thing but…" he breathed out, "The way you fight is beyond what I imagined."

Shepard smiled slightly, shifting from foot to foot. "Like I said… biotics." She shrugged, reaching back to touch her shotgun reassuringly.

Next to him Leliana muttered quietly. "Truly you wield the Sword of Mercy, bright as Her fire. The Maker shines through the light you cast upon the world."

Alistair jerked and gave Leliana an incredulous stare, "She's from the stars, not the Fade, that's blasphemy." He pointed at Shepard shakily. "She's perfectly normal! Just…" he hesitated, eyes tracking across her blood stained armor. "Really powerful."

Leliana turned to him, poking him roughly in the chest. "She is from the heavens! And you dare talk to me of blasphemy? Didn't you say yourself that she isn't drawing on the Fade to power her magic? What else can she be filled with then but the Maker's will?"

Morrigan let out a dirissived sort. "Her biotics?" She shook her head and turned to Shepard. "You are certainly unlike any mage I have ever known, though blessed by a Chantry legend, I doubt."

"She's a unique mage." Sten snapped, hefting his weapon. "Saarebas are unstable at the best of times, and this one more so than others." He stepped forward. "But she makes a powerful ally." With that he sheathed his weapon. "May we continue? The Blight will not wait for you all to pick your jaws up from the floor."

"You aren't worried she's going to explode and kill us, my large friend?" Zevran asked.

"No."

At that the elf shrugged, strolling passed the stiff cluster of people. "Well then. Let's be off then, shall we?"