Hello! And sorry for the long wait! This is actually going to be the penultimate chapter I think, we are nearing the end. Or maybe not. We shall see.

Thank you for all the support and feedback on this story so far, I appreciate it more than I can say. I hope you keep enjoying the story, and again thank you for your amazing support with the reads, reviews, follows, favourites... Thank you.

Disclaimer: still applies, obviously.

"GET OUT!" Yelled Dalia, scaring both him and Beth. She pushed him away, and for a split second Krem felt like he was back in that tavern where the Iron Bull had given up his eye to save him from a lynching. Dalia's voice rang the way his mother's used to. His eyes caught Beth's, and she looked positively terrified, confused, and upset. The ground disappeared under his feet, and he felt ugly,inadequate, unwanted. He almost ran down the stairs, pushed past a few patrons, some who may or may not have been his companions, and ran out into the cold,cleansing air.

"...and he ran."

"She"

"Oh,I don't know!"

"It's a SHE, Beth. She ran away." Concluded Dalia, turning to Maryden.

The bard looked between the two of them. She had yet to voice an opinion, which was extremely out of character. All three ladies were sitting in the back room on a crisp,sunny morning. There was dust floating in the air like particles of gold. They remained silent for a bit. Outside, you could hear the bustling life of Skyhold, horses calling for their breakfast and people exchanging good mornings.

"What do you think?" Maryden asked Beth.

"I don't..."

"I mean, do you not think Krem is a man?"

"Well I did think he was, but..."

"Have you ever heard of people like him?"

"It's a her!"

"It may not be a she, Dalia, that's what I am trying to say!" Snapped the bard. "It's that common, granted, but some people aren't born in the right body. Some who were born boys are girls inside, and some who were born girls are really boys."

"You mean in their heads..."

"No, not in their heads, in their everything. They just weren't born in the right body. Maybe that's what happened to Krem."

"Alright but that's really far fetched, and really if that was the case he would have told her! I think Krem is a big butch lesbian who fancied Beth and when she realised that Beth is clearly not interested in girls, she took advantage of her manly looks to get under Beth' skirt. Simple."

"Would Krem do that?" Asked Maryden, ignoring Dalia.

"I don't think so... He's always seemed so gentle, so... Genuine." She looked at her hands. "He was always so respectful and courteous, and kind." Her brows furrowed and she added, more to herself: "I did get the feeling on a couple of occasions that there was something he wasn't telling me. I think he tried, but somewhow we just ended up being interrupted every time."

"You're welcome" scoffed Dalia. "Beth, you cannot be serious. I mean, it would be absolutely fine if you were into girls, I don't judge, but Beth... You are not into girls!" The young woman gripped her friend's hand as she looked into her eyes and said: "can you honestly imagine yourself enjoying sex with a woman?"

The elf blushed and looked away, pulled her hand back to her lap. Maryden looked like she was about to interrupt, but Dalia silenced her with a raised hand.

"Because that is the real question here, Beth. Not whether or not he's mentally a man, but if you, as a heterosexual woman, could have regular sex with another woman. I'm sorry if I seem crude, but Krem has boobs, and has a..."

"I get it!" Cried Beth, standing up and walking to the window, her back to the other two. "I can't believe he wouldn't tell me that... What did he think would happen?"

"Neither of you gets it. In fact, you don't get any of it!"

The ever soft-spoken Maryden had jumped to her feet and was glaring at them both.

"Krem is a man and he knows it. He doesn't need his body to agree with that, and he sure as hell doesn't need any moron to agree either. The question here Beth is not can you find the strenght in you to touch boobs, the question is : do you care for him, does he care for you, can you see yourself having sex with Krem. And from what I've seen of you two together so far, the answer looks like a big massive yes. However" Maryden started walking to the door. "The new question we should probably ask ourselves is :'should Krem have to put up with such narrow minded idiots who are so self absorbed they have completely disregarded his feelings on this whole mess in favor or their own petty little issues', and I am tempted to say no to that. After your awful behaviour to him last night, you'd be lucky if he spoke to you, Beth, and Dalia you truly are lucky he's way too good a person to hit you. I can't even bear to look at you both right now. Grow the fuck up."

And with that, the bard walked out, and slammed the door shut.

Dalia whistled. Both girls remained silent for a few minutes, then they heard angry footsteps coming in their direction. Expecting to see Maryden coming back with more spite, they were surprised to see the door bang open to reveal their boss.

"There you are! What were you doing hiding in here? Have you looked at the mess out there? We're supposed to open in four hours and nothing is looking ready. Out! OUT!"

That evening, it seemed the whole room was buzzing with some hardly contained excitement. To Beth, it looked as if everyone knew. Patrons kept giving her sorry and curious looks, and the Chargers were glaring at anyone foolish enough to attempt a glance at Krem. The young warrior was sitting in the back of the room,next to the Iron Bull, and seemed intent on not meeting Beth's gaze. The young elf' s cheeks still burned with embarrassment at Maryden's earlier rant, and she did feel like an absolute moron. Maryden was one of these people that never lost their temper, therefore if they did so for you, it meant that you must have indeed been an absolute A-hole. The bard refused to look at either Beth or Dalia. She'd sent a free pint over to Krem. Beth felt like she'd been thrown down a pit and had no idea how to get back up.

As she reteated to the relative safety of the bar, she was soon followed by none other than Jora.

"Hi" he said, and she ignored him.

"You alright?" He asked, acting all sweet and gentlemanly.

"Fine. Did you need anything?"

"I'm good."

She did not like how close he was. His body was trapping her behind the bar, blocking the exit.

"Hey listen, about that big idiot that slapped you... I just wanted you to know that he's no longer in my squad."

"Great story."

Dalia arrived at that moment, arms full of empties. Beth grabbed them eagerly.

"Hello, Jora." Said the young woman. "Did you need anything?"

"I'm good thank you Dalia, I was just checking up on Beth. I just can't believe it."

Dalia nodded emphatically, and they both looked at Beth who chose to remain silent and pretended to be scrubbing a plate.

Disappointed, her two companions decided to comment the events on her account.

"I couldn't believe either when I heard that Qunari talking about it with the Tervinter mage" started Dalia. "I mean, she really does look like a man."

"Some lesbians are really butch" agreed Jora. "It's fine, you know, whatever turns people on, I'm not judging, but to lie to Beth just to get under her skirts, it's disgusting."

"I know! Did you really not notice anything?" Dalia asked Beth.

"I noticed he was a really nice guy" replied she between gritted teeth.

Jora and Dalia exhanged a sorry look behind the girl's back.

"Crazy dyke" spat Jora, and this was what did it for Beth. Dropping the dishes, she turned to Jora and barked: "that crazy dyke is ten times the man you'll ever be" her eyes were throwing daggers, "Krem is the best man I know and I don't give a shit about what you two idiots think". She wiped her hands on a dish towel and threw it at her feet. "Find your own fucking business, stop messing with other people's lives and go get your own."

This said, Beth shoved Jora out of the way and began marching towards the Chargers' table. She deliberately sought Krem's eyes and knew he could feel her coming his way. It did not escape her that the rest of the mercenaries were shuffling closer together, shielding their lieutenant. When she reached his table, Beth refused to back down.

"Krem" she said, then when he didn't look up: "hey, Krem"

Finally he met her gaze. Not quite sure where she was going with that, Beth extended her hand to him.

"Will you dance with me?" She asked, and her voice had lost some its imperial tones.

He stared at her, and the rest of the table did. Beth felt like bursting into tears. He was refusing her. She deserved to be refused.

"Uh..." He started, confused, and suddenly it hit her: there was no music.

As if by a genuine miracle, Maryden appeared out of nowhere and launched into a song.

"Will you?" Repeated Beth, silently begging him to say yes. Give me another chance, said her eyes. They looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity. The elf was about to retract her offer and rush back to the back room to cry all her sorrow, but Krem abruptly stood up, and grabbed her hand somewhat forcefully. He towered over her, unsmiling, staring into her very soul.

"Yes" he said, and they walked to the centre of the room.

His eyes never left hers.