I peeked out from around the corner of the small mount stall just in time to see Krem pick up the basket I had left. We had been in Haven now for six months and every day I had made a point to make lunch for him and leave it in his spot next to Iron bull for when he got back. I was well aware of the fact that he knew it was I leaving the basket every day, for every night around the same time the basket would appear on my doorstep with a small flower placed inside.

Krem smiled as he reached into the basket. "You don't have to hide every day, you know." I felt my cheeks flush as he looked up to the stable. Inhaling deeply, I took a step out and slowly made my way to where he stood. "I wouldn't mind the company, but you always seem to hurry off."

"I always assumed you enjoyed the solitude." I stated quietly, sitting down next to him.

Krem shrugged and took a bite of bread. "I suppose every now and again I do, but what man doesn't?" He swallowed the mouthful before grinning toward where the rest of the Chargers sat. "Besides, when the prettiest thing you've got to look at all day is Rocky, you would want something nicer to look at, too."

I giggled lightly behind my hand and glanced to Rocky who winked. "I suppose you don't have to go through the trouble of returning my basket either."

"It's no trouble." Krem smiled and I cast my glance downward. "Oh, but you won't get your flower this way."

I shrugged as I picked at a piece of grass. "Maybe you could show me where you get them sometime?" I bit my bottom lip and looked up at Krem from beneath my eyelashes.

A grin took his face as he gave me a curt nod. "What about later today? When the sun begins to lower, I'll come get you."

I stood and nodded, the heat rising in my cheeks. "I'll see you then." With that I turned and headed toward the chantry.

Once inside I peered around. Seeing no sign of Allena, I turned to the first person I recognized. "Bull!" I called out with a grin. "What are you doing in here?"

Iron Bull shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. "Just waiting. The boss is in the war room. I heard they're looking to get that hole in the sky closed. Today."

I raised my eyebrows and stared blankly at him. "You can't be serious."

Bull shrugged again as the sound of opening doors filled my ears. I turned to see Allena walking toward me. "Well, Boss?" Bull rang out.

"We leave shortly for the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Gather your chargers." With that, Iron Bull left without so much as a glance back. "Aaleigha, this is happening now. We can't put this off anymore. I want you and Phillip to stay in the house, do you understand me?"

I nodded slowly before raising an eyebrow. "You've great timing, you know. I was just coming to ask if you would look after Phillip while I'm out with Krem this evening." I felt the heat begin to rise as Allena scoffed.

"Krem? The charger? The Tevinter?" I shrugged and bit my bottom lip. "Tell you what. I make it through this, if this thing closes, if we win, I'll be more than happy to keep an eye on him. But if I don't, if I fail-"

"Allena." I stopped her, a light smile on my face. "You've always been so much stronger that you believed you were. You can do this. Even Keeper Marethari believes so."

Allena's face lit up in shock. "You've spoken to the keeper?"

"I wrote to her a few months ago to let her know we were safe."

She smiled at me and breathed a sigh of relief. "Ma serannas."

I only nodded before heading to the door and off toward the little wooden house I shared with my brother. I opened the door slowly to see Solas sitting on the floor with Phillip. "Andaran atish'an, Vhenan." I smiled at the small boy who stood eagerly.

"Andaran atish'an, Sister!"

I raised and eyebrow and turned to Solas. "He wanted to lean the Shemlen tongue. I taught him only a little."

"Well, he had better start learning sometime, I suppose. Ma serannas, Solas."

Solas nodded. "I suppose you spoke with Allena. Has she come to a decision on the rift yet?"

"She's leaving shortly. I'm sure she will want you there with her."

Solas nodded, a hint of red dusting his cheeks. "I'll take my leave then. Dareth shiral, Da'len."

I nodded and turned from the door toward Phillip as Solas took his leave. "Garas, Vhenan." I held out a hand for my brother to join me at the window and wait for whatever would happen next.

"Sister?" I looked to the boy now in my lap with a soft smile. "Krem go, too?"

I blinked, caught of guard and finally nodded slowly. "Yes, Da'len. Krem went with them." The boy turned and looked back out the window without another word.

"Sister?"

"Hush, Da'len. Hamin." I sat at the small desk in the corner of the house, just waiting. The chargers had left nearly two hours ago. The sun was setting and I was beginning to worry. I had been so entranced in thought, I almost didn't hear...

Knock knock knock
I gasped and stood, knocking over the chair in the process. I rushed to the door and swung it open with a hopeful look.

"Sorry I'm late." Krem grinned sheepishly at me. It wasn't until I had my arms wrapped tightly around him that I realised what I was doing and took a step back, clearing my throat.

"Sorry. I just uh..." I looked down and swallowed the lump in my throat. "I got worried."

"Second string then, am I?" Allena grinned at me from behind Krem.

"Allena!" Phillip ran past me and into the Herald's arms.

"Andaran atish'an, Da'len." Allena chuckled. "Go on, Aaleigha. I'll watch him."

"Ma serannas. Be good, Vhenan." I kissed the top of my brothers head as he nodded at me and with that, Krem and I were off.

We walked down the steps and out past the many sparring soldiers toward a small wooded area. Neither of us talked for many minutes, but I finally broke the silence.\

"So what happened? At the temple, I mean."

Krem shrugged. "It worked. The rift closed. I suppose we haven't actually won yet, but we're that much closer."

"When we do win, what will the chargers do?" I glanced up at him, my hands intertwined behind my back.

"We'll follow the chief." Krem tilted his head as he spoke. "Just because the immediate danger here is gone doesn't mean we're done. Bull will get reassigned and we'll follow him."

I nodded slowly, looking down. As I did, I caught a glance of something in my peripheral vision. "Are these...?"

"Yeah, this is where I pick the flowers." He knelt, plucking a purple flower from the ground and pushing my hair back from my face, pinning it behind my ear with the flower. I blushed and looked down, unable to stop the smile from spreading across my face. "There. Beautiful."

Krem returned my smile as he leaned in close. I did the same, my breath catching in my throat. As I did, I saw something move behind Krem.

I gasped and pulled my staff off my back. "Templars!"

"What?" Krem turned, drawing his sword. "Those are no normal templars."

As he spoke, one of the templars saw us. He turned and made his way to us. He was larger than a normal human and he seemed to have glowing bits of red sticking out from his skin.

"What in the Creator's name is that?" I sent a bolt of energy flying from my staff, crashing into the templar's face. He fell back off his feet for long enough for Krem to grab my hand.

"Run!" He commanded, pulling me along behind him. We ran as fast as we could manage, just in time to see a trebuchet launch toward the mountain.

"Allena!"

"Aaleigha! Get to the house! Krem! Find Iron Bull!" We both nodded, and gave each other one final look before heading out separate ways.

I made my way to my house and slipped inside quickly.

"Sister!" Phillip ran to me, clinging to my leg tightly.

"Hush, Vhenan. It'll be okay." I hugged the boy tightly to myself.

From outside came a loud, monstrous noise. I peeked out the window and gasped, hurrying as far away from it as I could.

"Sister?" The boy asked, looking up at me, his eyes large.

"Dragon..." Was all I could manage.

At that moment, a large crackling sound jarred my thoughts and a plank of wood from the ceiling fell in front of us, encased in a wall of fire. I looked up to see the rest of the ceiling above also ablaze and let a scream. As I glanced around the house, the fire began to spread. I screamed again, followed by a scream from Phillip.

"Aaleigha?!" I heard the voice from behind me on the other side of the wall.

"Krem we're trapped!"I cried, holding the boy tighter.

"I'll get you out, stand back!" I backed up as much as I could as an ax splintered through the wood at the wall. As soon as a big enough hole was through, I ushered Phillip through it. A large crack caught my attention and I looked up just in time to see another flaming board fall across the hole Krem had made. "Aaleigha!"

"Sister!"

I stared at the area where the hole was, my eyes wide in disbelief. "Krem?"

"Aaleigha, hold on! I'll get you out!" He began hacking away with his ax, causing more and more of the ceiling to collapse.

"Krem no! With every strike, the house caves inward."

"But I-"

"It's alright, Krem. You saved Phillip. That's what matters." I breathed in deeply, but instantly began choking on the smoke.

"No! I-"

"Keep him safe."

"Aaleigha!"

"Back up!" A different voice struck out. Within a moment, the wall came crashing down and I was plucked from the inside just before the ceiling gave out and came crashing down altogether. I stood, stunned and turned to see Bull swing his hammer over his shoulder. "Krem, take them to the chantry. Keep them safe. The boss has a plan for getting them all out of here. You go with them. We'll catch up as soon as we can."

I gawked at Iron Bull for a moment before turning to Krem. He wore a look of worry mixed with resent that I could not place.

"You heard the chief." He said softly. "Let's move!" He shouted to the rest of the chargers.

I lifted Phillip into my arms and began running for the chantry as fast as I could. Once inside I made my way to Krem. "Thank you." I managed with a smile.

"For what?" He spat. I stared at him, an expression of shock locked on my face. "I did nothing."

"You saved my brother." I began. "You saved me."

"Ha!" He turned from me and started toward Commander Cullen. "That was The Iron Bull. Not me."