I apologize for the wait everyone. To be honest I was a bit... downtrodden when I only got one review on my last chapter. But regardless I know some of you are still reading this and it's my duty to get this done, regardless of how busy I am... (Busy or rather distracted)

Not to mention I found this chapter especially difficult to write...

Anyway I hope you enjoy. Remember I appreciate both positive and negative feedback.

The Dalish warden sat down at camp next to the fire contemplating religion, specifically whether or not she should consider possible existence of the Maker.

Leliana knew that the warden did not think fondly of the ideas of the chantry, but ideas of the Maker himself did not seem to bother the elf, nor did it bother her that Leliana held him so close to her heart and never before did it once hinder their relationship. Lenimph believed in tolerance, and Leliana respected her values and did not try to force the warden to believe in him.

Unlike the chantry that branded her as a heathen.

The elf was taken away from her thoughts when Morrigan bitterly announced that dinner was ready and took her own portion back to her tent. For a moment the elf was tempted to follow the witch until Wynne invited her to sit next to her… well between her and Alistair. The elf hesitated, but decided she could not be rude to the elder after her last outburst, so she sat down between them bitterly.

"You must regale me warden about the ashes . Alistair says you fought a highdragon," Wynne said.

"Yes, it wasn't easy but-"

"The boy said you leapt up into the air and slew it in the head, it must have been quite the sight."

"I guess it was."

"Well Alistair made it out to be so," Wynne chuckled. At this both Alistair and the elf blushed. Wynne smiled, "We'll I have some potions to prepare, if you don't mind, I will excuse myself now." The elderly mage left leaving Alistair and Lenimph alone.

"Listen … Alistair I'm sorry I ended what we had but… we're still friends right? It's just you've been so distant and almost… angry at me…" the elf nervously let out; expressing feelings made her incredibly anxious.

"Of course, I'm sorry I haven't been acting… proper… about it."

The warden smiled, "Good I'm glad, I missed your jokes." Alistair laughed halfheartedly, and they both went silent. Lenimph scanned camp for Leliana.

"Leliana went to bed, if that's who you're looking for,"he said.

"Oh… I guess she's mad at me for snapping at her today." The elf frowned.

"You had a right too! Those women, once they start they never stop!"

"What do you mean… those women?" The warden asked.

"Well…" Alistair chuckled nervously, "You're not like them, your level headed and quiet… it's quite charming." But before she could respond, the elf heard Sten shout out, "Darkspawn!"

Lenimph quickly grabbed her shortbow, the Dark Moon, and quickly shot a few of them down before the rest of them came in closer, where her dar-missan showed them no mercy. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Leliana come out of her tent confused, with Schmooples in one arm and Marjolaine's recurve in the other.

The sight made the elf smile until she was distracted by a dark figure behind the bard. A dark swirl of party members fighting gruesome monsters surrounded the elf as she realized what… who she was looking at. She ran to it, and the shadow of the man she once loved spoke back.

"You… Lethalan…"

"Tamlen?" Lenimph reached out but he ran away. He cried to stay away but she chased him down to the borders of camp.

"Don't look at me! I… am sick…!" the elf looked at Tamlen… the blonde hair she once admired was gone… his skin… so dark and wrinkled, the taint was consuming him…

"We can help you Tamlen. Don't be afraid." She lied… to herself.

"No help, no help for me. The song in my head it… calls to me. He sings to me! I can't stop it! I don't want to hurt you Lethalan. Please… stop me." Tamlen voice made the warden cringe, he rasped out in pain, wheezing almost. The elf could not even begin to imagine what kind of pain he was experiencing…

"We can try to heal you, Tamlen!" The warden bit her lip to try to keep herself from crying.

"No…" it shook it head, "too far… you cannot help me… always… loved you… I'm so sorry." Tamlen attacked his kin, using the last of his strength to aggravate her.

"Tamlen stop… stop!" The warden cried out in vain. She had no choice…she plunged her dar-missan into him.

"I love you…too" she said while he smiled and fell back to the ground. Tamlen finally escaped the song. The warden fell to her knees and took his tainted hand in hers; it was cold… like he was never alive.

She cried.

Alistair approached her but she only gave him a snarl. Leliana stared from a distance… she wanted to go up and comfort her, but she had a feeling that the elf wanted to be alone. The others stayed by the fire and huddled, speechless over what happened. Even Morrigan was shaken up and stood with them. Leliana watched her love morn over another. She remembered when she killed Marjolaine… the sight she saw on the floor, the twisted woman she had become, but that was by choice…

What if Tamlen could have been saved… Leliana thought… would she have continued to love him?

For a good while they stayed put until the elf stood up and eyeballed her surroundings. She spotted a tree sapling by the creek. She walked over to fire and picked up a shovel and glanced at Leliana and the others with no expression.

"Do you need help?" Morrigan offered. The elf gave a teary nod. "Oh sodding hell, give me that…" Oghren said taking the shovel from the warden. The men went to prepare a grave while the women and dog went and pulled the sapling from the earth.

It was ready… Leliana reached for Lenimph's hand as Alistair and Ogrhen gently lowered Tamlen in. As the dirt poor upon the dark elf the warden tightened her grip on Leliana's hand, "Sing in Uthenera… please …"

Leliana complied, and softly managed to sing the song of mourning, but only the Dalish truly knew its meaning. Tamlen could now forever rest, for in his waking sleep there was freedom, and the warden was finally free.

I hated the way Tamlen's death was handled in game... and how only Alistair was the person to say something about it...

Anyway the next chapter will probably be the last... and the rating will change from T to M... ;D