A/N I spent all my weekend writing out four chapters of Drifter's Journey so, here's the first of them. Hope you enjoy it!

And as always... Read, Review, and Enjoy!


When I reenter the campsite I find that the tents are already set up, but the fire has gone out. "I'll go collect firewood." I state to no-one in particular while wandering towards the forest edge.

Oh... I never thought I could get this tired from entering the Fade. Creators it feels like I was bashed over the head with a war-hammer!

Ten minutes later I have a hefty armful of twigs and firewood so I head back. I turn around and sigh as I see it's pitch-black. "Just wonderful." I shift my weight and toss out a mage's light wisp to follow me around as I head back.

What would I do if I wasn't a mage? Probably die. Or get eaten and regurgitated by that animal to feed-

Wow I am dark today.

I get around to the fire pit and light the logs with my magic to start my new job, cooking.

"Here, I caught these while you were out collecting wood." I look up and smile as I see Erianne holding two plump rabbits by their quite unlucky rabbit's feet.

"Perfect, it'll just be about an hour now. Be prepared to be wowed." She rolls her eyes tiredly and walks off to enter her tent.

Lets see...

I let my inner self skin the rabbits and strip them of all their nutrients to be boiled in the black kettle brimming with boiling water that Alistair gathered from a nearby stream. "Here, tis always good with a creature of the wilds." I nod to Morrigan and take the herbs she kept in her pack for meals from her hand.

"Thank you sister, always nice to see you helping out." She scoffs and walks back over to her own camp, but I can see she appreciates the sentiment.

I start adding the herbs to the stew when Sten moves over behind me and over to Erianne's tent with a determination all Qunari are famous for. Erianne barely has time to look at him before he states his reason, "The Blight, how will you end it?" He demands.

I turn my head slightly to see Erianne staring at him tiredly, "I thought we'd just ask the darkspawn to please leave."

Sten crosses his arms while I start to stir the stew with a ladle I always keep in my pack, "If you hope to slay the Archdemon with wit, you may want to arm yourself first." I smile as I see Erianne actually surprised that Sten made a joke. "You say you are a Grey Warden. I have heard stories of this order."

She sighs, "You doubt I'm a Warden?"

Sten doesn't answer her, "Great strategists and peerless warriors. That is what we hear of the Wardens. So far I am not impressed."

I scoff as I remember how disorganized she was in the tower, "You and me both Sten. These bas have little to be impressed by." I feel something on the back of my neck and look around to see Sten staring at me intensely for a moment before turning back to the Warden.

"I'm not here to impress you Sten." She states bluntly.

Sten seems to take it as it is, "Evidently not, it remains only to be seen what you are here for."

I tone out the last closing arguments as I concentrate on cooking the stew to perfection.

I'm just about done with the first part of the process when I look up to see Sten standing there, watching me intently. I blink at him as I say, "Uh... What do you look at me for?"

His eyes intensify, "Women cook, you are not a woman. Explain."

I swallow as I can FEEL every woman's glare rest upon us from around camp, "Um. Tis easier to cook one's own food. I personally like a healthy bit of paranoia when it comes to what I consume. Better to be paranoid than dead." Sten simply nods in understanding and turns back to stare off blankly into the forest.

What a strange guy.


"How can you do that?" I blink away my thoughts and look to my left to see Alistair sitting down next to me.

"Do what?"

"Stare off into the sky and not burn anything?" He says with a smile.

I laugh, "Tis multi-tasking. Quite a useful skill when alone in the Wilds."

He shakes his head, "How could you stand living with Morrigan?"

I shrug, "You get used to her. Now her mother, she was a piece of work. She could insult you, compliment you, and trick you into doing something for her in under seven words flat!"

He cringes, "Don't remind me." He looks over at Morrigan's camp, "She's just so..." He shakes his head.

I nod in understanding, "She's difficult to like at times yes."

He scoffs, "At times? When is she ever not? Anyways, I shouldn't distract you. I want a nice, un-burned, tasty meal to fill my belly and if I keep flapping my gums I'll end up eating with the dog."

The dog, Barkspawn, Barks happily from his spot beside Erianne's tent.

Erianne, myself and Leliana all burst out into laughter as Alistair blushes and scurries away from the campfire.

This is probably the best group of companions I've worked with in all my combined lifetimes. They're like a family.

I sigh happily and go back to the somewhat tedious task of cooking the evening meal.


"Alright, stew's ready!" I shout as I find the rabbit and potato bits inside the pot to be a perfect texture and softness.

Everyone walks over with their own bowls, "This is a simple rabbit and potato stew. Rabbit courtesy of our Warden who shot two of them dead when we arrived in camp." Everyone laughs and she punches my shoulder, "Ow! Ok just for that, you get ONE portion!" She pouts playfully.

"Don't worry, I've got an apple and a hunk of bread you could have instead in my pack." Alistair states almost immediately. Everyone around camp snickers at the two of them as Erianne blushes intensely.

"Oh, uh, thank you Alistair, but I'm fine." Erianne says somewhat quietly. She looks at me, almost begging, "Sorry I hit you, I forgot about your touch thing."

I frown, "I don't have a 'touch thing' I just don't enjoy having people lay their hands on me without any actual viable reason!" She just rolls her eyes. "Alright fine, you get seconds, but next time you'd better be more sincere in your apology." I hand her two bowls of the stew and she sits down around the fire to dig in.

I look over to see Wynne just staggering over to the campfire, "Starting to slow down a little are we?" I ask with a smirk.

She looks at me tiredly, "I am just feeing a little weary, is all. As you may have noticed, I'm no spring chicken."

I nod as I hand her her filled bowl, "There's still some life in those old bones, I bet."

She smiles as she sits down to eat, "Thank you. You're very kind to say so, but in all honesty, I do not know how many years I have left in me. I have lived for such a long time."

I smile, "But there's always something else to do. It keeps pushing you to stay alive. I know the feeling." I sigh as I reminisce on all the absolute hell I had to deal with on a daily basis back in my past lives.

All that fighting for something better only to be dropped here, not knowing if I actually made a big enough difference.

"I suppose so." She replies before taking a bit of bread Alistair is passing around and digging in.

I hand Morrigan a bowl, "Better than wood-rot, I can Greentree that."

She laughs, "I would hope not, or I'd have to slit your throat!" We have a good laugh and she and walks off to sit near the back of the group, but still at this campsite.

She's at least more social since we met, I think.

I shake my head and hand off more stew to the collective party members lined up.

After everyone has their food Leliana breaks off into an intense story about some princess from Rivain and her husband that was murdered by her lover. Everyone somewhat enjoys the tale and before anyone knew it I was regaling my tales of fighting battles in the Wilds and with the Hawkes. They got to know more about me and I got to impress Alistair with my tale of how we defeated the Ogre. All in all the whole evening flew by without any problems.

I finish up my stew and decide to bring up something that's been bothering me, "So, where are we going next?" I ask Erianne directly.

"Oh, that reminds me!" Leliana exclaims. "A letter arrived while you were away." She hands the sealed letter to Erianne who promptly breaks the wax seal and opens it.

Her eyes drift over the letter quickly before she re-reads it and hums curiously, "Hmm... it seems like the rumor we heard about Bann Loren was true. A survivor from Ostagar has been captured by his men and is being held on his land."

Alistair coughs on his food, "Muat?" I cringe as bits of food fly out.

"Dear Creators man, swallow!" I state in disgust.

He blushes and swallows, "What?" He repeats.

Erianne nods as she looks over a map she unrolled on ground, "Yeah, and it looks like his land is close, really close." She points north-east from here, "About two leagues that-away."

"If there are any survivors we must help them! One of them could be a Warden!" Alistair argues adamantly.

She nods, "Agreed. We'll head out at first light."


Leliana and I volunteered for first watch, we ended up walking the perimeter in silence for a few hours before sitting down on a rock to rest for a moment. I look up and try to remember everything I've done and all I have to do to end the Blight.

The Circle is done, now we just need the Dwarves, Elves, Redcliff, then the Landsmeet and fighting the Archdemon at Denerim.

I sigh as I rest my head in my hands.

Sounds easy, but if the shit at the Tower is any indication of the future it's going to be a long ye-

"Something wrong?" I look up from my thoughts and see Leliana watching me with concern. "You seem strong-willed and happy in the open, but when I see you alone you look so sad." She says quietly.

I look up at the stars and mutter, "I could say the same about you." I smile at the glistening spots of twinkling light that seem to cover every inch of the sky, "So beautiful, young, full of life, but marked by the path once walked."

I blink at my own words and look down just as Leliana swallows nervously, "What are you talking about?"

I shrug, "What do you think I am talking about?" We stare at each other for a while. She trying to make sense of me while I'm just screwing with her. I snort a laugh, "Relax, I'm only screwing with you."

She blinks in shock, "What?" Her eyebrows raise up to her hairline.

I sigh and shake my head, "Lets start over, I'm Darien nice to meet you." I hold out my hand and she takes it.

"Greetings, my name is Leliana. It is a pleas-" She freezes as I kiss the back of her hand.

"The pleasure is mine Leliana." I let go of her hand as I smirk at her reaction.

She blushes, "Ooh, a gentleman? You are full of surprises, yes?" She says airily.

We look at each-other in silence for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Now, I heard you lived in the Chantry?" I ask, still brimming with laughter.

She nods while smiling, "Yes, I enjoyed the quiet. The cloister life was suited for comtemplation, and I found peace in the silence."

"Yes, I know."

She looks at me, "Oh? Did you ever visit the Chantry? I don't believe I ever saw you there."

I smile weakly, "I, ah... met the Revered Mother once or twice."

She blinks in surprise, "Was this before the Blight? I don't remember anyone like you meeting her grace."

I nod, "I saw you in the gardens, I was... observing the garden when the Revered Mother entered." She watches me in confusion. "Maybe this will remind you..." I concentrate and flash into my raven form, "CAW!"

I jump back into my elf form to see her staring at me with wide eyes, "Holy Maker! That- that bird was you?"

I nod and smile, "Oh the look of the Revered Mother's face when I deposited a gift was priceless!" I bark out a laugh. "She swore! She cursed the Maker! HAHA!"

Leliana's disappointed frown breaks into a smile, "The look WAS priceless." She giggles, "Oh Maker I was so surprised when she cursed I nearly fainted!" Her smile falls, "Oh goodness! I almost hit you! I'm so sorry!"

I wave off her concern, "No problem, T'would be my reaction as well."

She laughs, "'Holy sodding Maker!'" We laugh over her mocking of the Mother and smile at the strange coincidences we come across time from time.


The next morning everyone was already packed by dawn and had everything ready to go as Erianne ordered the march. We walked off in relative silence, maybe a few small animals or birds interrupting our path only for Barkspawn to chase them back into the forest here or there. All in all it was a nice break from the constant fighting.

I sigh as the feathers on my dagger sheath across my chest make it itchy once again, which somehow reminds me of the bonding Leliana and I did throughout last night.

She's a surprisingly good listener as well as a good sport. I even tripped her for a laugh, she ended up grabbing me and both of us ending up rolling down a rocky hillside and into a pond. Haha, good times...

"Darien, could I ask you a question?" I blink and look to my left to see Leliana walking beside me.

"Uh, sure, go ahead."

"Where do you come from?"

I look at her intensely, weighing the options like usual before finding a viable story, "I'm Dalish, but lost my clan so... I came from the Wilds I guess."

She raises an eyebrow in curiosity, "I didn't know the Dalish camped in the Wilds."

"They don't, tis dangerous and infested with diseases." I state as bluntly as possible.

"...oh, I'm sorry." her empathy warms my heart.

"Don't worry about it." I respond apathetically.

She looks at the road ahead for a while, a bit worried by the way she fidgets with her fingers, "Uh... I've never met a Dalish before."

Her statement doesn't register for a few moments until I look over to see her staring, "Oh! I'm sorry I've just been distracted." I shake my head clear.

She nods, "In Orlais most elves either work in Alienages or live in the homes of their masters as servants, often in great wealth and luxury."

I blink at her in surprise that I've never heard this conversation before.

Serves me right for taking priority over Mass Effect and skipping most of the dialogue in Dragon Age: Origins.

"I did not know that, strange."

She smiles, "I've known elven servants with servants of their own. A well-trained elven servant is highly valued in Orlais. They are nimble and dexterous..." I look at her as she pauses to see a slight blush creeping up her neck, "and many people find them pleasing to look at."

Morrigan scoffs from a few feet ahead of us, Leliana doesn't notice.

I smirk at her, "So I should offer myself to some Orlesian Noble?" I state sarcastically.

Her smile drops, "No, I did not mean it that way!"

I raise an eyebrow at her, "What?"

She sighs, "My words were clumsily chosen. I did not mean to offend. I- ugh... I am sorry."

"Leliana, I was joking. I don't take offense at your knowledge, tis quite interesting."

She looks away, "Of course, I am sorry if I implied otherwise."

I shake my head at her strange behavior, "No problem."

"Thank you. You have given me a lot to think about." She slows her pace to drift to the back of the group and I'm left alone to wonder what the hell just happened.


"Alright, everyone set up camp for the night, we'll be back in a few hours." Erianne tells the rest of us while she, Alistair, Leliana, and Wynne all go off to rescue the Ostagar survivors from Bann Loren, the sniveling weasel... She specifically denied my volunteering for the journey In favor of everyone who could either help out or was there when Ostagar fell.

Whatever she thinks will help I guess.

I sit down next to Sandal and Bodahn at one of the rare times they leave their cart unattended to grab a meal. "Hey guys."

Bodahn looks up from his bread and smiles, "Well, look who it is. I'm sorry for your misfortunes messere."

"It's alright Bodahn, I understand." I look at Sandal as he plays with a white stone, "Hello Sandal."

He looks up and smiles brightly, "Enchantment!"

"What are you working on?" I ask curiously, remembering the curious enchantments he did throughout both Dragon Age games.

He holds up the white stone and I blink as I see the blue inscription of frost in Ancient Tevinter carved on the surface. "Huh, frost. What types of enchantments do you know?"

Sandal watches me for a second, "Many enchantments."

I thought Sandal didn't gain a larger vocabulary until the second game? All well... simple details.

"Ah, so you can understand those symbols?" Bodahn asks.

I nod, "Yes, I am well-versed in Ancient Tevinter and have enchanted one or two things in my studies, although they always failed."

"Then perhaps my boy can teach you some things about enchanting." He states kindly.

"Enchantment!"

"Haha, I think he likes the idea!"

I smile, "That sounds wonderful. Oh and here." I take the black crystal amulet from around my neck and hand it to Sandal. He takes it and seems to marvel over the strange designs carved into the dark rock. "I wanted to thank you for helping me find the way back, you know, after Erianne tied me to a tree. This is an enchanted amulet a friend gave me for good luck years ago. I feel it fitting for me to pass it on."

Sandal stares at the black crystal for a moment before quietly whispering, "Enchantment Protect!" The black crystal clears up and turns a bright green before lowering into a mildly bright glow.

What the heck did he do?

"What did you do?" I ask as he hands me back the amulet, Bodahn still speechlessly watching from the sidelines.

Sandal claps his hands together rapidly, "Fade goes away!" He says in a bright and childish voice. I watch as he turns to Bodahn and says, "I want some pie." Before walking back across the campsite to hop into their cart.

"Uh... Fade goes away?" I ask as I turn to Bodahn.

Bodahn shrugs, "I haven't the faintest idea what's gotten into him. That's the most he's spoken to anyone in years. Perhaps it has something to do with the amulet."

I nod, "Maybe."

"Well then, I still have some armor of your companions to enchant before nightfall, speak to you later Darien." He wraps up the rest of his bread and stands to walk away.

I shake his hand, "Be well you two. I'll be by in a few days to study some rune-crafting."

He walks away, leaving me alone to wonder what Sandal did to the amulet Morrigan gave me to commemorate the success of my first hunt. I smile at the feeling of accomplishment I had when her pride in my ferocity boiled down to a better friendship between brother and sister.

She's always trying to put people down, or insult others for her amusement, but in that instant she was simply a proud teacher of maiming and savagery.

I pull the amulet over my head and cringe at the shifting of fade energy that bleeds out of my body and into the air. I pant as I focus it all back inside and gasp as my physical connection to the Fade weakens.

Fade goes away... I'm guessing that's in the literal sense. Creators is that distracting...

I look around before pricking my finger and using the blood to form fade energy in my palm, its actually much easier than before for some reason. But when I let it go it evaporates instantly.

So it must stabilize the Veil around me, making it possible to perhaps battle a demon without strengthening it with every drop of blood! Oh how clever! Sandal you are a genius! Now I'm actually wishing I was attacked by a demon!

I smile at the new trinket our resident savant has bestowed upon me and walk back to my tent to study some of the books I... 'recovered' from the Circle Tower. I nod to Morrigan as she joins me, and we use our free time to translate Mother's Grimoire while we still can.

The secrets held within are beyond invaluable for mere men to coddle within a spire after-all.


Morrigan looks up at the noise from Mother's Grimoire and I peek my head out of the tent to see a group of people approaching the camp. "What do you see?" She asks.

"It might be Erianne returning, but it looks like someone is wounded." I look at her, "Stay here and ready yourself."

She scoffs, "T'would be easier to just ambush them before they reach our camp."

I sigh, "Fine, come on." Both of us arm ourselves and step forward cautiously, ready to attack or run at any moment.

I watch the shadows shift at the sight of us and- "Darien? Help Alistair with Leliana!" I blink before rushing up at Erianne's voice to grab hold of Leliana's left arm with Alistair on the right.

"The stars are, blue and greening..." Leliana mutters while staring up into the dark night sky.

"What's wrong with her?" I ask worriedly.

"Get her to my tent, I have some tonics that might help!" Wynne exclaims in a partial panic.

"Tis easy to explain what happened now!" Morrigan complains to Erianne.

"Morrigan please just help out! I'll explain AFTER Leliana is stable!" She retorts.

Leliana goes limp and we have to carry her over to the tent. "Place her on my bedroll." Wynne says quickly. We do and she shoos us all out of the tent. Erianne is pacing outside and muttering incoherently. I grab her by the shoulders and force her to look me in the eyes, "What happened?!"

She stares at me before angrily pushing me off, "I don't need to tell you anything!"

Alistair steps up, "Erianne-"

"No! He is only here because YOU wanted him to! He is DEAD to me do you not understand that? He gets nothing!" She shouts back.

"T'would be best if we all calm down. This emotionally frantic debate accomplishes nothing!" Morrigan exclaims.

Wynne sticks her head out of the tent, "We were on our way back when a pack of giant spiders ambushed us, Leliana was bitten by one that dropped from a tree and collapsed a few moments later from poisoning. Now back away from the tent! I cannot concentrate with all this arguing going on right next to my ear!"

"What the fuck!" I yell out as I whip my head back to Erianne, "You don't keep anti-venom with you at all times?! Do you guys even have health poultices?!"

Alistair shrinks down at my tone, "No, we don't."

"You don't get to judge me you bastard! You abandoned me in the middle of the forest!" She yells defensively.

I shake my head angrily, "And you did the same to me so we are even! Now shut up and lets figure this out!" I ignore any retort she's about to shout and march into Wynne's tent. I stop her as she's about to argue, "You need help, I have medical training, so lets get her stable!"

Wynne reluctantly lets me stay, "Alright, prop her head up and keep dabbing her forehead while I try and find a tonic to slow the venom down."

"Alright." I prop up her head with a pillow and check her pulse to find it's in rapid, shallow beats.

Come on Leli, don't you die on me...

I dab and keep checking her pulse for what feels like a lifetime until Wynne appears at my side with a blue vial. "Tilt her head up." I do and she pours the liquid down her throat.

After a while Leli cringes in pain and starts to sweat even more. "What did that do?" I ask as Wynne flies across the tent to search through her tonics again. I lean down and feel Leli's breath slowing, "Damn it Wynne get your behind in gear! She's almost gone!"

Wynne drops down beside me with a white liquid and pours it into her hand before rubbing it across the two pincer wounds in Leliana's shoulder. The wounds start seeping a yellowish-green puss for a while before closing. I reluctantly wipe the puss off with a different strip of cloth and clean the remaining wound before Wynne heals it magically. Leliana's breathing intensifies as her heartbeat stabilizes. I let out a breath of relief and close my eyes as I rest my head in my hands, "That was too close."

I feel Wynne's hand on my shoulder, "Yes, now go, she needs to rest."

"Is there anything else I can do? Will an anti-venom potion work?" I ask hopefully.

She taps her chin for a moment before nodding, "Yes, a small vial of anti-venom laced into a healing potion would do wonders for her."

"Ok, I'll get to brewing right away." I dash to the flap of the tent and stop for a second to look back, "Thanks, for saving her."

Wynne smiles sadly at me while not taking her eyes off of Leliana as I depart.

I wipe down my hands with a damp cloth as I walk over to where Erianne, Morrigan, and Alistair are sitting and eating silently. They all look up at me as I approach, "She's stable, but not out of the woods yet, she'll need a lot of rest."

Erianne and Alistair breathe sighs of relief while Morrigan frowns before turning and walking back to her own campsite.

I'll talk to her later.

"Is there anything we can do?" Erianne asks me desperately, guilt playing all across her face.

I shake my head, "No, the only thing we can do now is give me time to brew up a special potion to help her along, but my alchemy set is destroyed."

Alistair frowns, "Then why don't you just go buy another?"

I scoff, "You really think Bodahn has a top-quality alchemy set just laying around? No, only the larger cities, maybe Denerim, would have that kind of thing in stock." I fold my arms and toss the rag into the fire, "Not to mention the required ingredients." Alistair lowers his head sadly.

This just... sucks... why did this have to happen now? Only after I just got to know her as a person? God!

"What about the Circle?"

I look at Erianne in surprise before frowning in deep thought, "Maybe, they have to brew top-quality Lyrium potions constantly so if one of their sets survived the disaster then I might be able to convert it, and the local inn might have some rarer ingredients or at least substitutes that I could use!" I smile as the plan comes together. "Alright, I'll go." I turn to get my things from my tent and Erianne stands to stop me.

"No, you are not going to be trusted with something this importa-"

"For the Maker's sakes Erianne he saved our lives in the Tower! He deserves to be trusted with this." I nod to Alistair in appreciation as Erianne backs off.

"I'll be back in a few hours." I say with determination.

"Wait, a few hours?" Erianne asks in confusion.

"Yeah, I can fly in my raven form straight there and be back before everyone goes to sleep. Then I can brew all night and get the potion ready for Leliana to be moved by noon tomorrow at most." I explain.

Erianne nods and backs off.

I grab my pack and staff before taking my coin purse with me as well and walking back outside. Alistair and I shake hands, "Safe travels Darien."

"Keep them safe Alistair, I'll be back before you know it." He simply nods and I wave to Morrigan. She barely looks at me. Sten crosses his arms and nods in what I think is respect before turning to stare into the fire.

I take in a deep breath and secure my pack as I walk over to the edge of camp while looking at which direction the Tower is on my map.

Alright, south-west for about an hour and I'll be at lake Calenhad, then I can follow the shore to the Tower, perfect.

Closing the map, I pack it in my robes and flash into my raven form to flap off into the dark of night, the safety of camp long behind me in my quest to save Leliana's life.