She awoke the next morning to another empty bed and a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" she grumbled still half asleep.
"Its Eamon, I would like to talk to you in my study when you have a moment." he yelled through the door.
"I'll be down as soon as I've changed." she yelled sitting up. She quickly put on her armor and her boots. She walked over to Max who was still sleeping in front of the fireplace and patted his head.
"Come on. If I have to be up you should be too." she said. He looked up at her through half opened eyes and yawned.
"Come on. I'm sure breakfast will be ready soon and I know you don't want to miss that." she said. He quickly jumped up and barked at her playfully.
"Now thats more like it." she said walking over to the door with Max close on her heels. She opened the door and Max bolted out making his was to the kitchen. She laughed and made her way to Eamon's study. Once she entered she noticed all of her friends standing in the room.
"You wanted to talk Arl Eamon?" she said stopping next to Leliana.
"I wanted to discuss something with you and I thought your companions should hear as well." he said interlacing his fingers.
"Whats on your mind?"
"I wanted to discuss you leaving some of your friends behind." he said watching her.
"You want me to leave Alistair here, right?" she said seeing through his plan.
"Yes, there is much we need to talk about before he is made king." he replied.
"Do I get a say in this?" Alistair said shocked.
"Well I was thinking that maybe just taking a few of my companions along would be a good idea. I don't want the clan to think that we're in anyway threating to them and I'm afraid a large, heavily armed group would do just that." she said crossing her arms.
"I agree, but who will you take with you then?" he said leaning back in his chair.
"Leliana, Wynne, and Zevran I think would be the best choices." she replied.
"Okay wait. Leliana and Wynne I could understand, but Zev is an assassin, and that is pretty threatening." Alistair interjected.
"True but the clan doesn't know that and more importantly he is an elf, which would help in them trusting us." she said looking at him.
"But your Dalish. How could they not trust you?" he replied.
"Because I'm not from their clan and I don't know what they're opinions on humans are. Some clans refuse to even look at humans let alone let them in their camp. If that is the case then with Zev at least I won't be going in alone." she stated. Alistair opened his mouth a little like he was going to try and argue but he kept quiet.
"So we are left here to twiddle our thumbs until you return then?" Morrigan asked from the corner of the room.
"No. In fact Morrigan I'm sure you still have a lot of that book to read. Oghren and Sten will help to train the new guard recruits with double handed weapons." she replied.
"What about Max and Shale?" Leliana asked.
"Hm, Max could come with us and Shale could, well do whatever it is Shale likes to do." she said shrugging her shoulders.
"How long do you think your going to be gone?" Alistair said rubbing his temples.
"Hard to say. The biggest task we have is just finding them." she replied watching Alistair.
"Well, it sounds like its settled then. You and the other three should leave as soon as your ready." Arl Eamon said standing up. Keira bent at the waist and made her way back to her room to pack. She walked in and found Max laying next to the fireplace again.
"Do you have a nice full belly now Max?" she said walking over to a chest to get her weapons and her pack. Max picked his head up and barked happily at her.
"Well thats good, but you you should be getting ready to get going. We're going to find the Dalish." she said putting her quiver on. Max stood up and happily barked at her, she laughed.
"He wouldn't be so happy if he was getting left behind." Alistair complained leaning up against the door jam.
"We're only going to find a Dalish clan, Alistair, not going to fight the archdemon." she said rolling her eyes.
"You don't really plan on putting me on the throne, do you?" he said almost pleading.
"Well Anora hasn't done anything to prove that she is unfit for the throne but I do think it would be good for you take in whatever Eamon tells you just in case." she said shrugging. By the look on his face she could tell that he wasn't happy with her answer.
"At the very least just stay here to humor Eamon." she finished. Alistair sighed and nodded his head.
"Well at least you don't plan on putting me on the throne." he said thinking aloud. She knew very well that he didn't want to be king. He had explained a lot of the things that the Arl did and said being king meant he would have to deal with all the stuff the Arl the dealt with and a lot more.
"If there isn't another choice. Thats when I'll ask that you be king." she said trying to make him feel a little better. He gave her a fake smile and headed back downstairs. She blew her bangs out of her eyes and grabbed her pack. She walked out of the room with Max and found Leliana, Wynne, and Zev waiting for her at the end of hall. She walked past them as they fell in step behind her. She lead them out of the castle into the courtyard where Sten was already instructing the guards.
It was almost a week before they were greeted by a small group of hunters.
"Andaran atish'an, my friend. You have come a long way. I give you the welcome of our clan." Said a blonde woman. "These are curious companions you have. Might I ask the purpose of your visit?" she finished. Oh you don't even know the half of it. Keira thought to herself.
"I'm here on the behalf of the Grey Wardens, sister. I need to speak with your Keeper." Keira replied.
"The Grey Wardens? You... have joined their ranks? How unusual! Excuse my surprise... I will take you to the keeper right away." the woman exclaimed as she turned and walked towards the camp. Keira followed her towards a bald man, a mage she noticed. Her heart dropped when she realized that he had the same tattoo on his face that Tamlen had. She pushed those thoughts aside. She was here as a Warden and needed to keep her composure. She took a deep breath as she heard the blonde woman, Mithra, explain that Keira was from the north and a Grey Warden.
"How did such a thing occur?" the Keeper questioned. Keira took another deep breath.
"It's a long story. Maybe another time?" she stated looking away from him. He studied her expression but did not push her for an answer, much to her relief.
"Ma serannas, Mithra. You may return to your post." he said bowing his head towards her. The blonde woman returned his bow and left.
"My name is Zathrian. What may I call you?" he said returning his gaze to her.
"My name is Keira, it is a pleasure to meet you." she said bowing her head.
"I wish I could uphold the agreement we signed centuries ago but...this will require an explanation." he said ushering her towards a group of elves laying on cots writhing in pain.
"We were attacked by werewolves. They ambushed us and while we drove them back many of our warriors were infected by the curse. Soon we will have to kill our brethren to keep them from transforming into beasts." he explained.
"Is there nothing you can do?" she questioned. He explained about a wolf named Wither Fang and how bringing back the heart could help them.
"I suppose I do not have to warn you about the things that live in this forest da'len. There are more dangerous things besides the werewolves." he said.
"I am aware. We will be careful." she replied. They both bowed and she lead them through the camp. She noticed many of the elves staring at her companions as they walked by.
"That word he called you, what does it mean?" Wynne questioned.
"It means child. Its what most keepers call the younger members of the clan." she replied.
"I might say I like the sound of it. It is very pretty." Wynne remarked. Keira smiled, no one had called her child since she had left her clan bound for Ostagar with Duncan.
AN: All the things that were said between Mithra/Keira came directly from the game.