Jimmy stretched, twisting her back as it crackled. They had been walking towards Redcliffe since morning and they were finally getting closer. The strange feeling of something bad was still there and growing, making her edgy and anxious. Alistair was acting strange as well, glancing at Cailan and Duncan while playing with his worry stone.

"Something wrong buddy?" she asked, walking next to him. "You keep acting like your going to be in trouble. I can help if that's the case! Not to brag or anything but I know a lot of tricks to get out of trouble."

"Um no," he said, staring at the ground. For a few moments he was silent before he suddenly grabbed her shoulder, stopping her. "Actually, I have something I need to talk to you about."

The rest of the group passed, only Fen stopping to stay by her side while the others simply gave them curious looks. Duncan had nodded to Alistair, like he was encouraging him. The whole thing made Jimmy curious. Her friend was acting strange and now he was actually going to tell her why.

Once everyone was out of earshot, Alistair took a deep breath before saying, "I am actually the bastard son of King Maric, Cailan's half brother. My mother was a maid at Castle Redcliffe and Arl Eamon took me in and raised me. His wife thought I was his bastard son since he took care of me and that was why I was sent to the Chantry, to stop the rumors and she wouldn't have to see me."

"I thought you said you were raised by flying dogs who worshiped Andrestate," she said slowly, frowning. "Maker! You lied to me! How dare you?"

The look on Alistair's face made her laugh, it was priceless. "No, no. I'm not really mad at you. We all have our own secrets that we'd rather not share. However, I wish you had told me sooner. Does Cailan know?"

"I don't know," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Duncan knows. I just didn't want to tell me cause I was worried you would treat me different. Everyone does once they find out and I don't like it. For the flying dogs, I know, horrible of me to lie about such a thing. I am a bad man."

"Yes you are," she teased, bumping him with her shoulder. "You do know that the rest of our group heard you right? Never turn your back on people when you tell a secret."

Alistair spun around so fast Jimmy was worried he would fall over. Peeking over some rocks, Leliana, Morrigan, and Sten were obviously eavesdropping. Leliana had the decency to blush while the other two merely shrugged. Fen gave a snorting laugh, shaking his head.

"Alistair you shouldn't be afraid to tell your friends," he said wisely, like an old man. Jimmy rolled her eyes at him. "Cailan probably knows anyways so you shouldn't be worried there. Now, can we please move on? I'd like to get to Redcliffe before it gets dark."

Everyone agreed and headed off. Duncan and Cailan had waited for them further up the trail and began walking again once they all caught up. Bohdan and his son were taking their time going through the pass, not wanting to damage their wagon. If they got into any trouble, the older dwarf promised to send some kind of signal that they'd need help.

Morrigan slide up to Alistair, looking him up and down with a slight smirk. He frowned at her. "Can I help you?"

"Oh no," she said, still smirking. "I was just looking for some of your father in you."

"Leave me alone," Alistair growled. The witch walked off, laughing softly.

"Ignore her," Jimmy said, tucking her hands in her pockets. "She's just jealous, having lived in a swamp all her life with no real adventure."

"Indeed," Leliana chimed in. "There is nothing to worry about. I am sure you look like your father. Don't worry about Cailan either, I'm sure he'd love to know he had a brother."

"I'm not too sure about that," Alistair drawled. "But thanks for trying to make me feel better. It's a nice effort."

They walked in silence, getting closer and closer to Redcliffe. During that time Jimmy thought about what Alistair told her. He was the illegitimate son of a king and his half brother was king with everyone thinking he was dead. If that information was made public what would the country think? She knew that if Cailan had actually died, Alistair would have been a potential candidate for kingship but that was all changed now.

She gnawed on her thumbnail, still thinking. Things had changed, subtle things but still things. She knew that Cailan wasn't supposed to have survived, at least one of the Grey Warden recruits were supposed to have lived and lead this whole thing. What else would have changed? With a soft sigh she continued walking, noticing that the bridge to get into Redcliffe was coming into sight. She tucked her thoughts away for now, leaving them til later to worry over.

No one was at the bridge and the was a scent of smoke. Jimmy curled her nose at the smell. It got stronger the further they went into Redcliffe. Duncan led the towards the Chantry, a worried frown on his face. A large windmill turned slowly, obvious burns on the wide fins. What greeted them before the Chantry made Jimmy's stomach roll.

Bodies laid in rows, covered with white cloth while women wept nearby. Men carried even more bodies to line up, some whole and some looking like corpses. Everyone had a grim face and all the men wore armor that had seen better days. Leliana gasped, muttering something foreign under her breath. Jimmy kept her eyes away from the bodies, instead focusing on the well dressed man they were approaching.

"Greetings Teagen," Duncan said to the man, grasping the well dressed man's hand. "What happened here? Was there a battle?"

"There was," Teagen sighed, wiping his face. "But no battle I've ever faced before. Something happened after Eamon fell ill and Isolde sent the knights off to find a cure for him. The dead rose and attack the village, killing all they could at night. Come, let us find somewhere more private to speak. I do not wish the villagers to hear what I must tell you."

He didn't bother looking at the rest of the group but instead led them into the Chantry. More people were in there, laying on cots with bandages covering them. Some cried out, asking for help, while others simply stared at the ceiling, emotionless. She avoided looking at the people and felt a hand grasp her's. Glancing up she noticed Cailan was holding her hand. The man gave her a kind smile, squeezing her hand reassuringly which was surprising. Most of the time she never really knew if they were friends or not. He would spend time with her and Alistair, joking and playing games but when they were traveling he would stay with Duncan. Regardless, she gave him a shaky smile in return, burying her other hand into Fen's coat.

"It's alright," Cailan murmured, still holding her hand. "One as young as you has never witnessed such things. Don't worry, we will find out what happened and how we can help these people."

"Have you ever seen stuff like this?" she asked softly, staring at the ground.

"When we fought the darkspawn, yes," he replied. "Such looks in men and women are other things they should have never seen before. I was young and foolish then, thinking they would get over such trauma and fears. Now, having been in their place and almost dying, I have learned to see things differently. Strange how almost dying makes you mature better and see things in a different light."

Cailan's words were comforting but Jimmy still couldn't bring herself to look at the wounded men. It was terrifying how dangerous life could be here in this world, that not everything was a game. One could easily forget that things like this happened in the world, either world, when everything was covered up or falsified. This was all real, as real as it could get.

Teagen ushered them all into a room, waiting until they all entered. Once they did he closed the door, locking it to keep unwanted ears away. She took her hand away from Cailan, giving him a smile of thanks as she went to stand on the other side of Duncan. She was supposed to be leading these people, not Duncan, and it was time she also grew up and learned how.

"It was a horrifying thing," Teagan said, pouring them all drinks and handing them out. "Every night for almost a week the dead rose and attack the village. Before they came down to the village they attacked the castle, almost slaughtering everyone there. I came back as soon as I heard, trying to defend my brother's people while he was ill. There was almost nothing we could do, we were defenseless. Our smith helped the best he could, bless him. Without his help we would have lost more men than we did."

"How did it all happen?" Jimmy asked, wincing when everyone looked at her. "Sorry. I didn't mean to ask it like that. It's just, dead people don't come to life again unless something was done to them right?"

"You are right young one," Teagan said with a tilt of his head. "How it happened is the worse of it all. We finally caught a break, were able to drive dead off and destroy most of them. Myself and a few men snuck into the castle using a secret entrance. We fought out way through countless monsters until we discovered the source. Eamon's son, my nephew, Conner was the cause of it all. Isolde, the stupid woman, hired a mage to secretly teach him. You see, Conner apparently was showing signs of being a mage and she got scared. I know it is no excuse but she wanted to protect her son."

"So the mage taught him spells beyond his control and he was unable to be control," Morrigan drawled, leaning against the wall.

Teagan shook his head, staring into his cup. "No that's not it. Conner was afraid for his father, he wanted to save him, so he made a deal with a demon. I won't bore you with all the details but simply get straight to the point. The mage told Isolde he could help but he would need another mage and a blood sacrifice. She somehow found another mage and gave them a maid for their sacrifice. They-They used blood magic to defeat the demon and save my nephew."

"How horrible," Leliana murmured, shaking her head. "Using evil to stop evil is never a good thing."

"No, it is not," Teagan agreed. "But they did free Conner. The other mage fled, I couldn't find him, and the other is locked up again. Eamon is still ill however. The mage we have admitted to poisoning him per Loghain's orders."

"That bastard," Cailan growled, slamming his fist on the wall. "Is he trying to destroy my kingdom? What does he think he is doing? I will see him hanged for his crimes."

"Calm down Cailan," Duncan said, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "There is nothing you can do right now."

"Cailan?" Teagan asked, squinting at him. "King Cailan? Is that really you? We heard you were dead, killed by Grey Wardens in the battle. You look nothing like yourself."

"It is me," the king growled, standing straighter. "If it hadn't been for our friend and her wolf, we would be dead. We owe her much."

At Cailan's words Teagan looked at Jimmy curiously. She gave him a slight smile and waved, feeling sick to her stomach from what they learned. The fact that this Isolde woman willingly helped kill someone so her son would be saved was twisted. A mother's wish to protect her child no matter the cost, even her own sanity. It was horrible.

"Anyways we need to see Eamon," Jimmy said, shifting her weight. "There has to be a way to cure him. We can't let the poor man waste away and die."

"We can enter the castle as soon as I am done with assisting the funeral preparations," Teagan told them. "It is the least I can do for these people who have suffered cruelly. You can stay here or explore the town but I ask that you wait until I am done to enter the castle. Also, please do not say anything of what I told you to the villagers. I do not wanting them fearing and mistrusting my brother for something he couldn't stop."

They all agreed, Duncan and Cailan following Teagan out to oversee the funeral doings. Jimmy glanced around, a faint inkling playing at the back of her mind. There was something in this town she would need. She headed out of the Chantry, promising to not get in trouble while she prowled the village. Grumbling at her side, Fen followed her.

First they went into the abandoned houses, exploring the wreckage of the battle against the walking dead. There was plenty for Jimmy to dig through to find treasures. She hoped she wouldn't find any bodies while digging around but went on with her plan. The first few houses were busts, only burnt leftovers that turned her skin black and Fen's coat grey. It wasn't until the fifth house did she find something interesting.

"Look Fen," she yelped excitedly. "A chest! Maybe there is gold and jewels and other treasures. Hmm, this is a very long chest and it has three locks. Geez this is going to be fun."

"Maybe you should leave it alone," he drawled, trying to shake off the soot that covered his coat. "If there are three locks someone must have not wanted it broken into. Besides, even if there is gold and jewels you'd be better off giving it to these people. They'll need it."

"Bah why do you think I am digging around in these half burnt, broken down houses? Looking for food? Even I'm not so selfish to take away what these people will need. Maybe when we go up to the castle I can smuggled stuff out for them. No one will notice if the castle is in shambles."

"You know, it scares me how your mind works sometimes. How can you possibly think stealing from the castle will help the villagers? It will only give them more trouble."

"Spoilsport," she grumbled, focused on the locks. The first two were easy especially with the lock picking kit Leliana gave her. The third and last was giving her some troubles. Deep inside the lock something was catching, keeping the lock from opening with ease. After almost breaking her pick twice, she pocketed them and eyed the lock, wondering what would open it. The pressure of metal against her leg drew her attention and an idea hatched.

Slipping her thin knife from her boot, she pushed the blade into the lock. After a few wiggles she was able to get the tip pressed against what kept the lock from opening easily. She grabbed what looked like a rock and smashed it against her knife. A few more whacks and the lock fell apart, the chest finally free.

"Lets see what we have," Jimmy chuckled, rubbing her hands before she pushed it open. What was inside dumbfounded her. "What the hell is this? Really? This is all that is in here? Worthless."

Fen peeked over her shoulder, commenting, "Maybe we should take it back. Someone is bound to be able to use it. Besides, that's what you get for trying to steal from people."

"Fine fine," Jimmy grumbled, wiggling the hefty thing out. "Help me carry it at least. Damn this thing is heavy! Shit! My toe! I hate you stupid thing!"

"Kicking it won't help your foot any."

"Shut up. I hate you right now. Let's go."

"By the Maker," Leliana gasped when Jimmy and Fen walked through the Chantry door, carrying their long, cloth wrapped burden between them. "What have you two been doing? You are covered in head to toe in soot and grime. What do you have? Is it a body?"

"I wish," Jimmy grumbled as Fen crouched down to let their burden slide off his back. "It's heavy enough to be. Take a look thought, I wonder who used it."

She unwrapped the bundle, exposing a massive sword. It had been used well but also had been taken care of expertly. For the most part it was plain, just a blade and hilt. Yet if one studied it close enough, it was obvious that this blade had been well crafted so it could handle any abuse. Jimmy poked it with her toe, wondering what they could do with it.

"Leliana," she began, crouching down so she could run her finger along the sword. "What can we do with it? It's too big for any of us to lift and there's nothing of extreme value on it. I wonder who could have used it anyway? They must have been very strong or..."

"Or what Jimmy?" Leliana asked when she stopped her sentence. She stared at Sten, her mind spinning.

"A giant," she said, pointing at Sten. "Sten! Come here! I got something I want to show you!"

"If you are going to show me some trick again," Sten rumbled as he walked over. "I will throw you into the lake. Now what is so important?"

"Look at what I found! See? Isn't it cool? You could use it instead of that normal sword you have. Honestly when you use it you look like you are playing with a kid's toy."

The qunari stared at the sword, surprise actually filling his face. Quietly Jimmy stood up to walk closer to him, squinting at his expression. He paid her no mind and slowly reached down to grasp the sword. With ease he lifted it, gazing at the blade with a mixture of emotions.

"Um Sten?" she questioned, poking his side. "Are you alright? You look like you are going to cry. Do you like it?"

"Little elf," Sten said slowly, running his hand along the flat of the blade. "I do like it. For awhile now I have been searching for my sword Asala and you found it. I will be forever grateful."

"It's just a sword," she said with a shrug. "I'm glad you like it though. When Fen and I brought it back, I never thought it would be your's. I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's important to you."

"Yes it is."

"Well? Want to tell me why or are you going to be all mysterious?"

"You are a very curious little elf. It will kill you someday." When Jimmy simply stared at him, waiting, Sten sighed. "Very well. This sword is very important to me. It was forged for my hand alone. I lost it in a battle by a lake where my companions also died. That lead to the reason why I was caged in Lothering. A group of farmers found me and brought me back to their home. When I woke without Asala, I killed the farmers, with my bare hands. When I was found, I willingly went and caged myself as atonement."

"So you had a panic attack because you didn't have your sword and killed a bunch of people? Even though they didn't have your sword? That's perfectly logical."

"You have a sharp tongue elf. The reason I had what you call a panic attack was because without my sword I could not return home. Even if I was able to make it back without dying, I would be killed on the spot. The only time a qunari no longer has their sword is when they fall in battle."

"You're not going home are you?" Jimmy asked, worried. She didn't want Sten to leave. When he wanted to be, he was a very interesting person, handling her endless questions with irritated ease. Once she and Leliana caught him picking flowers and teased him about it though he denied everything. Without him, the group would feel empty.

"I will not leave," he said, studying his sword again. "The Arishock sent me here to discover what a Blight is. I could give him a much better answer if I help you defeat it."

"Yay!" she cried, surprising Sten when she leapt to her feet, arms spread. The qunari was quick and with a thrust of his arm he kept Jimmy at bay while she flailed her arms in an attempt to hug him. "You aren't going to leave! That's great!"

"Jimmy, I think you are scaring him," Alistair laughed, walking over. "Look at him, he doesn't know what to do with you. You are going to make him run away."

"Bah he won't run away," she said with a shrug as she gave up on trying to reach the qunari. "If he tries, I'll steal his giant sword so he can't. I managed to get it here, I know I can hide it where no one can find it."

"That would be very foolish of you to do elf," Sten said, securing Asala. "I would not try it."

Jimmy opened her mouth to retort when Duncan, Cailan, and Teagan entered the Chantry. Duncan took one look at Jimmy, still covered from head to toe in soot and grim, and shook his head. She knew he was wondering what they would do with her, always getting into things. Sweetly she smiled at him, walking over to where they stopped as the rest of the group wandered over.

"The funeral preparations are done," he told them all, eyeing Jimmy and Fen. "I can see you two were kept amused while we were busy. Care to explain why you both look like you crawled through a fire pit?"

She glanced down at Fen, who kept his mouth firmly shut. "We were trying to see if we could scavenge things for the villagers to use. Instead we found Sten's sword that he lost. So it wasn't a total loss."

Duncan sighed, shaking his head. Movement behind her alert her that Sten moved to stand behind her. Glancing up at him, she wondered why he was frowning at Duncan. With a shrug she ignored them both, leaving them to whatever they were doing while they stared at each other. Fen gave a snicker and she discreetly kneed him in the side, scowling.

"Anyways," Duncan finally said, moving his gaze from Sten to look at the others. "Teagan asked if we would join in the funerals. The villagers are nervous that this will happen again so they asked for a water funeral. We should be there to show our support."

"Why are you looking at me?" Jimmy asked, eyeing Duncan as the older man stared at her. "If they want us there then it is only polite to pay our respects. They have been through a lot these past few days and if us being there will ease their nerves then I say we should."

"Alright," the older man said, nodding. "Gather your things, we will be leaving shortly. After the funeral we will go to the castle and see what we can do to help."

In a short few minutes they had all their things and were standing at the sandy shore of Lake Calenhad. Boats sat on the shore, cloth wrapped bodies laying in each other them. To their left were archers, grasping cloth wrapped and oil soaked arrows. Everyone had a solemn look on their faces, a few women weeping nearby. Jimmy watched as Teagan gave the men that stood near the boats a nod. At his nod they pushed the boats into the water. Once they had floated a distance away, Teagan directed the archers to lit their arrows and shoot. With a mixture of horror and awe, she watched as they shot the flaming arrows into the boats, setting them on fire. Once all the boats were on fire, Teagan watched with a grim face.

"Let us go," he said, turning away from the scene. "I will escort you all to the castle. I do believe a bath is in order for some of you and clean clothes. After that we will address what to do about Eamon."

Jimmy elbowed Alistair as he snickered at Teagan's comment about baths. Fen grumbled at her side, muttering about knots and being cold. Glancing back, she watched as the boats were engulfed by the flames. She watched until they walked into the buildings, shielding them from her sight. With a shudder she followed the rest, wondering what would be in store for them in the castle.

Notes: So this part was interesting to write. Cailan is finally maturing into a good man and Sten has some new respect for our little Jimmy! I always wondered why Isolde didn't demand Jowan to help her son, whatever means necessary, but then again she probably didn't trust him. Yep, I made her out to be a bad guy because, well, she really irritates me, especially how she reacts when Alistair comes back, like he is going to steal everything away from her. Jimmy is getting used to this place but she can't handle the sight of dead people that well. Granted, a city girl like her never saw many dead people in real life, well her real life, so it's a reasonable reaction! A side note, I got my best friend hooked on DA2 :) very proud of myself!

Guest: You never know ;) Maybe Fen wasn't around during that time, maybe he was somewhere else. About the romance, that is currently up in the air heh. Our poor heroine is only 17 ya know.

: I'm glad you enjoy this :) I try to keep it interesting but sometimes I worry!

Judy: I'm glad you enjoy!

Mendi: You should watch it, it's very good! I always enjoy reading your reviews and I am jealous you got McDs, I'm stuck on a diet ;_;

Like before, Jimmy and Fen and all their chaos are mine! Everything else is Bioware!