Day 9:

It really doesn't seem like any gods are with us lately, especially when considering the luck we've been having.

While the mages were well aware of their responsibilities, they were a bit… Preoccupied with troubles of their own, if one can even call it that. Turned out that the Circle had been under a siege, having blood mages and demons running around freely. The first enchanter was supposedly dead and the Templars were more than ready to just rid the entire tower of life, but Alistair and I managed to convince them to give us a chance to see if we could do –anything-.

Inside the tower we got the aid of an elder mage named Wynne and together we battled our way to the source of the disaster and actually managed to solve things in a… Some-what peaceful way. At least most people, the first enchanter included, survived the encounter. While Alistair and I remained at the tower to help with some of the cleaning, we sent Morrigan back to Redcliffe to give Bann Teagan the message of the mage's willingness to help out with the boy. Seeing as the woman can shape shift, she will be getting there much quicker than the rest of us. Besides, she was only happy about it, by the looks of it. I heard her mutter something about Alistair getting on her nerves…

Right now we are only waiting for the first enchanter to finish his talk with the Templars before we leave. The elder mage, Wynne, has also requested to join us in our cause, which we have happily accepted. Having a mage of Wynne's talent will be most useful, especially since Alistair keeps heading head-first into danger with little disregard to his own safety… Thank god he has thick armour, as well as a thick head.

Hopefully, this will be the last of our major troubles and hopefully the mages can just remove two thorns from our side in one go.

"Are you sure that you are alright, Wynne? We can sit and take a break, you know."

Wynne chuckled and shook her head, giving Alistair a warm smile. "Really, Alistair. It is alright, I am not tired. We are walking in a speed that suits me and my feet just fine. But thank you for your concern, it is very touching and very kind of you to worry about me."

"Well, you are an old woman and you need your rest."

"Careful now or I will show you that this old woman still has some tricks up her sleeve."

Theron just shook his head as he fixed the campfire, carefully using a small flint stone against his dagger to create enough sparks to light it. After making sure that the wood has caught the flames, he carefully speared the meat they had gotten from the tower onto sticks before leaving them to roast.

Letting out a small sigh, the young Dalish made himself comfortable next to the fire, sitting and watching the flames as they licked up towards the sky. He was so tired and he felt that they were still on ground zero, having gotten no-where in their quest. Sure, the mages had agreed to help them, but the tower was a mess and who knew just how many mages the First Enchanter could afford to spare when that time came. He already felt they were gracious enough to offer aid with the human boy in Redcliffe. They had been on the road for almost two weeks now and he had been away from his clan much longer…

He knew that the road ahead was still so much longer…

"A copper for your thoughts?"

Looking up, Theron offered a small smile to the templar as the larger man came to sit next to him, landing beside him with a heavy thump. "I do not think my thoughts are worth that much, Alistair," he murmured as he gazed back at the fire.

"Really now? I am certain they are worth more than mine, considering I mostly think about cheese and clever ways to harm Morrigan."

"Now, the latter is probably worth a coin or two," Theron murmured, earning a rich laugh from Alistair.

"Oh, I know! And I will share them with you as soon as I am sure that Morrigan is not around to listen in."

The Dalish smirked slightly and shook his head before the two men fell silent, the only sound being the light snoring from the large wolf lying next to the Dalish and the crackling from the fire.

While the Mabari had remained with the others back at Redcliffe, Theron's trusty and tame wolf had followed him all the way from the day he left his clan. He had only remained hidden as he was shy amongst large group of unknown people and smells so it was only when they had travelled to Lake Calenhad that he had decided to risk the group of unknown people.

"Hey, Alistair?"

"Hmm?" The templar reached over to grab one of the sticks, testing the meat with his fingers before taking a bite from it.

"About you being of royal blood," Theron started slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on the fire. "Why didn't you say anything? Why did you keep your birthright a secret?"

Alistair looked like he was about to choke on the piece of meat, though me managed. Clearing his throat, he gave Theron a small, cheeky grin. "You never asked?"

Theron raised an eyebrow at him, though the smile on his lips kind. "That's a cheap answer."

Alistair sighed some and after nibbling off some more meat from his stick, he answered. "If you want the full explanation, I will give it to you."

Theron sat up, wanting to give the templar his full attention. Alistair just smiled weakly at him, as if he feared was what coming next. "The thing is," he started slowly. "I'm not used to not telling anyone who didn't already know. It was always a secret. Even Duncan was the only Grey Warden who knew."

Alistair looked a bit down at the mention of Duncan and Theron could tell that the thought of the older Grey Warden was still a sore-spot for the man. He moved a little closer and places a warm hand on the larger man's shoulder and gave it a small, supporting squeeze. Alistair gave a small smile of gratitude.

"It's okay," he murmured softly, though he still reached a hand up to gently squeeze the much smaller hand. "Anyway, after the battle, when I should have told you… I don't know. It seemed like it was too late by then. How do you tell someone that?"

Theron gave Alistair a gentle smile and nodded. "I guess I can understand that."

"I… I should have told you anyway," Alistair replied, returning the gentle smile, poking the stick in his hand against a smouldering log, making it snap in two and fall over. "It was important for you to know. But… I guess part of me liked you not knowing."

The Dalish raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Then he quickly shook his head, hands lifted in defence in fear that he had asked something stupid. "I mean that... What happens when people find out? About your heritage, I mean."

The templar shook his head some, lifting the stick and waving it around as the tip caught fire. "They treat me differently. I become the bastard prince to them instead of just Alistair." Alistair pulled a face. "I know that must sound stupid to you, but I hate that it's shaped my entire life. I never wanted it, and I certainly don't want to be king. The very idea of it terrifies me."

The sound of the crackling fire filled the air as both men fell quiet, the only other sounds being Wynne's soft breathing as the mage had fallen asleep and Baelvain's soft pants as he rested next to his master. The Dalish ranger absentmindedly reached out his hand and started petting the large beasts' head before speaking up. "It doesn't sound stupid at all."

Alistair raised his eyebrow, giving Theron a look that the Dalish guessed meant something in the lines of 'You are kidding now, aren't you?'.

"Really, I can understand it," he murmured, giving the templar a warm smile. "Amongst the Dalish, if a child is discovered to have magical abilities, it is immediately taken in with the Keeper to train so he or she can one day take over as Keeper for the clan. One can rarely ask to be released for that burden, it is tradition. If there are many children with the gift, the eldest is usually picked as the heir, so to speak. And like with your royal lines, I think, the children rarely have a say. They do not ask for the gifts, or for the responsibility."

The templar looked stunned. "Really? The Dalish do that?"

Theron nodded and stabbed a new piece of meat onto his stick, then held it over the fire. "Mhmm. I was just a hunter so I don't know much about it, but one of my friends was the apprentice of the Keeper at the clan I came from. And she says that all one can do is take the responsibility and burden than comes with it at strides."

"I would if I even could, but that is the thing. People don't –want- me as king or even as a prince and I could live with that if not.…" Alistair shook his head some and looked at the piece of meat that was held over the fire, watching as the red meat slowly cooked and changed colours to golden brown. "I mean, for all the good it does me. My blood seems certain to haunt me no matter what I do. I guess I should be thankful that Arl Eamon is far more likely to inherit the throne. If he's alright."

Alistair worried at his lower lip. "I hope he's alright."

Theron just smiled gently at Alistair and reached out a gentle hand towards the larger man's shoulder, grasping at it and giving it a squeeze. Alistair seemed to appreciate the gesture and flashed the Dalish a warm smile in return.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry for not telling you sooner. It was a dumb thing to do."

"Don't worry about it, Alistair. No harm done."

"I guess it's kind of a relief that you know now. Like a burden's been lifted from my chest." Alistair chuckled and flashed Theron an impish grin. "So I suppose we only have to worry about the blight now, eh? Should be a cake-walk compared to this. I mean, phew. That was one huge load to carry."

"Well, you did dump the load of your shoulders back at Redcliffe," Theron mused, giving Alistair a friendly nudge.

"Ah, right. I knew there was something I had forgotten."

"If you two don't mind, but I would really like to get some sleep. I suspect the trip to Redcliffe is not going to be a stroll down the lane."

Theron and Alistair looked over their shoulders towards Wynne, who just huffed and turned around at her spot, tugging the blanket almost completely over her face. Grinning some, the two Wardens tossed each other a small look before they both broke out laughing, the happy sound echoing in the otherwise silent night.

Behind them, a soft sigh was heard from somewhere under the blanket accompanied by a shake to Wynne's head.

"Children…."