The march to Redcliffe was filled with tension. Lorelai's presence seemed to make everyone except Alistair uneasy. Her evasiveness when questioned did nothing but fuel the belief that she couldn't be trusted; she knew most of them watched her looking out for the first hint of betrayal, unsure of the role she was going to play in helping them out. Lorelai was passed caring what other people thought of her, she had to survive.
"So have you ever been to Redcliffe?" Alistair had been walking beside her since they left camp.
Lorelai contemplated her answer. Yes she had been to Redcliffe, many times but she worried. She worried if she told the truth there would be more questions, she worried if she lied how would he and the others react when they found out the truth about her heritage
"A little."
"A little?" Alisatair's brows furrowed in confusion. "Either you have or you haven't."
"Not everything is black and white Alistair. There are shades of grey. You should know that with your title and all." Lorelai smiled playfully.
"B-But it's a yes or no answer."
Lorelai simply smiled, "It's whatever answer I choose to give."
"You make no sense sometimes, you know that right?"
"Perhaps she makes no sense to you" Zevran appeared between Lorelai and Alisatir. "But to one more experienced she makes perfect sense. She is simply being cryptic, all she needs is someone to break her code, isn't that right my dear?" Zevran smirked wickedly at her.
"Go away Zevran." Alistair hissed at the smug elf
"As you wish.'' Turning to Lorelai with a twinkle in his eye. "If you want to play your cryptic game with someone more intelligent, you know where my tent is." With that he headed further up the column, keenly aware that Alistair was staring daggers into his back.
"Sorry about that. Zevran doesn't seem to have any manners around beautiful women"
Lorelai stopped dead in her tracks. "You think I'm beautiful?" Though many noble born Lords had said it to her before, there was something about the way he said it. It was sincere, genuine and not motivated by a desire to marry an heir to a powerful family. Her heart fluttered and it scared her. Now wasn't the right time for this sort of thing.
"Wait, what? Did I say that out loud? Oh maker!"Alistair's face flushed pink, nervously he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry. I didn't. Well I mean. Yes. You're beautiful and you know you are."
Lorelai gave him a half smile, "You're not too bad yourself."
Teagan was relieved when Dairren and his companions entered the main hall of Castle Redcliffe, with several mages in tow.
"Thank the maker you've returned. I was beginning to fear the worst." Teagan addressed Dairren, failing to notice the newest companion.
"Well we're here now and if the mages are ready we can start."
"Who will be going into the fade?"
"Wynne will enter the fade and hopefully rid Connor of this demon."
"Rest assured Bann Teagan, I will do all that I can."
"Thank you."
The mages formed a circle around Wynne and began casting their magic. Wynne felt herself enter the fade and she began to seek out the demon.
Dairren and the others looked on apprehensively, weapons drawn in case any more undead decided to rise but they were pretty much powerless. It was all in Wynne's hands now. They could only wait.