Ostagar

Amalyr looked around the room one more time, making sure she had everything she and Carver may need. Potions, poultices, poisons, a couple of snares, my daggers, bow and a change of clothes. I think that's everything.

"You're not going to need all that. I'm sure we can pick up any additional supplies we may need from the quarter-master when we arrive." Carver looked dubiously at his sister as he fingered the contents of her pack.

"Potions and poultices of this quality would be very expensive and will probably be hoarded for those of a higher status than us. I also don't know if they'll have the reagents I need to craft more." Amalyr eyed her brother. "No, I'm not leaving any of this behind with Bethany; I'm not taking any chances with our hides." Amalyr threw her pack over her shoulder and headed out the door.

"Lyr, you or Carver are bound to need my skills, are you sure you won't take me with you?" Bethany followed, her voice full of hope.

"No! Absolutely not! It's bad enough Amalyr is going; I'll not have you in danger as well."

Amalyr glared at her brother. "Carver, that's not helping."

Carver glared right back. "Fine then you talk some since into her, and maybe yourself while you're at it. I told you I would be fine. Stay here play with your friends, or whatever it is that you do with them."

"That's not an option and you know it. I lost Father. I will not lose you too, not while I can do something about it. Besides even if you tried to leave without me I would just follow you anyway."

Amalyr then turned to address her sister's question. "That's just it Bethy, the circle of magi will be at Ostagar, and that means Templars, lots of Templars. Look, even if you promised not to use your gift, you know it would be a temptation. Any-time, every time we went into the Wilds, or on any wounded you came across. That means you would most assuredly come under the scrutiny of the Templars stationed there. That's just not a situation I'm willing to risk." She gave her sister a quick hug. "Besides we both know mother's having enough kittens with both Carver and I going, someone sane needs to stay here and make sure she stays safe."

Bethany sighed. "I guess you're right, though I can't say as I like the idea."

Suddenly, a genuine smile lit Amalyr's face when she caught site of a lone Dalish hunter waiting just outside of Lothering. "Fenarel!"

Kissing her behind the ear in greeting. "I would not let you go into battle without seeing you off." He smiled down at the small woman who had captured his heart. She's really going to do this. Go off and battle those creatures. I do not want her to go. His expression turning serious, Fenarel pulled Amalyr into his embrace. "Lyr? Emma vhenan, do not go, stay here." Leaning in he captured her mouth in a searing kiss, a kiss full of desperation and need. "With me."

Breathless, Amalyr looked up into the worried eyes of her lover, tears threatening her own. "If I could talk Carver out of going, I would in a heartbeat. I don't know what will happen out there and I would never forgive myself if something happened to him that I could have prevented. I have to go. I don't want to fail him the same way I failed father." Brushing his lips lightly against hers, he nodded his understanding.

"Come back to me, Emma vhenan." Reluctantly he released her, stepping up to Carver, his intense gaze still holding Amalyr's. "Keep her safe." Fenarel turned his gaze to Carver. "Bring her home."

As if I had a say in the matter. Headstrong stubborn woman. Carver held his tongue and nodded to the elf before he and his sister headed for Ostagar and the wilds.

Poor thing. Amalyr closed the kennel gate behind her, moving slowly so as not to alarm the sick Mabari. The kennel master handed her the muzzle over the gate. "I will do what I can for him. No promises." Turning back to the enclosure she studied the animal. He was black as night and had the most intelligent eyes she'd seen in any other creature since the halla.

Amalyr removed her daggers placing them by the gate, and then settling down in the center of the enclosure, whispering, "I mean you no harm." She held out her hands, palm up, allowing the dog to come forward of his own volition. He sniffed her fingers, looked up at her, rubbed his face against her hand, and wined. Scratching lightly behind his ears with one hand. "I will need to place this on you." She showed the dog the muzzle.

The Mabari crawled on his belly laying his big head in her lap with a loud woof. Amalyr quickly placed the muzzle on the dog, ruffled his ears and left the enclosure.

"Ah thank you, Hawke. I was afraid I would have to put him down if I could not help him."

"No problem, are you sure there isn't anything else I can do for him?"

An incensed Carver cut in before kennel master could answer. "Andraste's flaming knickers, are you mad?! Amalyr that Mabari could have taken your arm off!"

"I'm fine Carver. The poor beast's been infected by darkspawn and the kennel master needed someone who could calm the creature enough to place a muzzle on him."

"That she did, and I'm grateful for her assistance." The kennel master looked between the siblings and the dog. "As for something else you can do for him. Your with the scouts right?"

Carver nodded eyes narrowed in suspicion. Someone always seems to want something from us.

"Will you be heading back out into the Wilds soon?" Carver nodded again choosing to stay silent.

"Well, you see, there is this herb that only grows near the water out there. Its flower is white with a red center. If you would be kind enough to get me one, I could brew up a potion that may be able to heal what is wrong with the boy. Although with his bond mate dead it may be better to just help him go."

Amalyr cut in, "What do you mean help him go? Kill him? Can't you help him find another bond mate?"

The kennel master rubbed the back of his neck. "It's rare that a Mabari can be imprinted more than once, but it's not unheard of either."

"Wait, are you saying its possible he can bond with someone else. Could he bond with me?" Carver was clearly exited by the idea of having his own Mabari.

"It's possible. Tell you what, get me that flower and we can try to bond him to you Ser?" The kennel master raised a brow.

"Not Ser, just Carver. And consider it done, we'll find that herb." Carver placed an arm around his sister's shoulder guiding her back to camp. "Amalyr, I could just kiss you."

"Please don't." She scrunched her face and jabbed him in the ribs.

"Come on, grab your gear, the commander wants to see us." He instructed his sister in a lighter mood.

Amalyr rolled her eyes. "Why didn't you say so earlier."

"I would have if you had not gotten us side tracked." Carver grinned at her again. "Although you seem to have the unholiest luck I've ever seen."

"Do you know what Commander Walduk wants with us?"

"I would imagine that it would be some last minute changes to our orders."

Blonde shaggy hair, brown eyes and built like a bull; Commander Walduk is an imposing figure of a soldier. Pacing back and forth, striking a pair of well used leather gloves repeatedly in his hand as he addressed his scouts.

"You are to scout out the advancing tide of darkspawn, likely ambush sites, pit falls, and ideas for traps and trap placement to decimate the oncoming horde. The King has also sent a request that you keep an eye out for the other scouting parties that may be in the area, and should you find Fergus Cousland you are to have him return post haste." Walduk motioned to Amalyr and her ever present shadow. "I expect you to follow her lead on this mission." Meeting Amalyr's eyes. "Hawke you will report all findings to me by the end of the night." The commander looked to his scouting party. "Dismissed."

Amalyr had made her report, with a list of locations for traps and pitfalls, sadly she and the scouts had failed to locate the Cousland heir, she then headed to the kennel master with the sought after flower. The kennel master had told her the potion would take some time to work and to come back with Carver after the battle tomorrow night.

It's been a very long day; all my commitments are taken care of. Amalyr sighed and headed back to camp I'm so tired and we have an early rise tomorrow.

Carver and a new friend were sitting outside of her tent when she arrived. "Amalyr come, celebrate! Have a drink with me and, and?" Her brother was slurring his words clearly drunk off his gourd. "Oh, where are my manners? Lyr, thish is ish?" Carver snapped his fingers. "Davesh,Daveth? He's, he's…a new recruit right? Davesh, thish ish my sister Amalyr."

Daveth with a chuckle and overly dramatic courtly bow kissed the back of Amalyr's hand. "Charmed. I'm one of the Grey Warden recruits, I guess after tonight Grey Warden in fact. Carver you did not tell me that your sister was this ravishing beauty."

Amalyr rolled her eyes and Carver snorted tossing her his flask filled with whatever was passing as spirits around camp. Daveth started his tale on meeting the witch of the wilds and being threatened with being thrown in the pot or possible frog time. The entire party roared with laughter over the senior warden's, 'Swooping is bad, and sneaky witch thief, line.' "You should have seen the look on that Cousland girl, I wasn't sure if she wanted to hit him or what, but it looked like she was biting her tongue she was."

During his tail Daveth had been slowly scooting closer bit by bit. "So any last wishes I can help fulfill before we head into battle? Life is fleeting you know." Daveth leaned in close running the back of his fingers along Amalyr's cheek. "It would be a shame, that pretty face could be decorating some darkspawn's spear this time tomorrow." Smiling roguishly. "If you would care to join me I might show you a thing or two?"

Amalyr wasn't buying it. She caught site of Carver starting to bluster, she gave him a quick negating gesture. Carver snickered behind his hand and leaned back to watch.

Eyes wide she placed a finger on his bottom lip lightly trailing her nail down his chin stopping at the neck to his studded armor. "Would you protect me ser Warden?" She leaned over to breath in his ear.

"That I would." His eyes lighting with his good fortune. Daveth stood pulling Amalyr up after him. Feigning a greater inebriation then she felt, Amalyr stumbled into the rogue allowing him to bring her into his embrace. Eyes partly hooded she looked into his eyes and whispered a breath away from his lips. "Do you know what I think?"

He leaned in trying unsuccessfully to capture her mouth with his own. "No, what?" He was having difficulty forming a single coherent thought.

"I think." Letting her breath ghost over his neck. "I think..you..need.." she ran the tip of her nose along the shell of his ear before breathing into it. "To.. find.. another.. pretty face." Amalyr tapped him on the nose "To try that line on." Then she disappeared into her tent leaving a very flushed Daveth staring after her.

Carver, roared with laughter. "Daveth, my friend, you don't want to go chasing after her, trust me."

"And why not?" he queried puzzled, "I like a good challenge."

Carver gave his new friend a companionable slap on the back. "Your just not her type." He tapped Daveth's ear. " Your ears are not pointed enough."

"A warning would have been nice." Clearing his throat, Daveth reached for the spirits. "Ahhh well. Too bad." Looking at the closed tent flap and downing what was left. "Well I best get back." With that Daveth left muttering about red headed temptresses.

A/N: This chapter is a little AUish, but i found it fit well with this story.

Once again a big thank you to my awesome Beta Kira Tamarion, and Bioware who owns everything. I just get to play with their characters.