A/N: So I've decided that I'm going to post mostly short chapters. It's more fun this way? xD

Chapter 1:

Fight's over, what now?

Kiera

These qunari were well-trained, but I had expected nothing less from the people who had sent Sten to Ferelden to investigate the Blight. They were a formidable enemy, the kossiths acted in unison, their movements making up the next's attacks, closing ranks whenever an opening split between themselves. They left very little room for error, what with their synchronized assaults and defenses which gave me with few opportunities to exploit.

And since fighting with magic was not an option, there was no need for me to maintain my distance from the warriors and their spears. Not arrows, these people used spears for their ranged attacks. Keeping close to them would be a much better alternative.

I sprinted between the trajectories, the whizzing of the spears narrowly passing by my body, landing impotently behind. I had to move, and fast—having these things trained upon me was almost more terrifying than having the archdemon and its flaming breath on my back. Almost. But Grey Wardens did not bow to men, nor will I yield in this battle.

And yet, there was no need for unnecessary bloodshed; these were men fighting for their honor (presumably, Qunari honor was a strange thing) and killing them for the sake of proving my skill did not seem an altogether wise decision. I did my best to strike them with the flat side of my blades, dropping these midway, allowing myself to be surrounded at close quarters—making use of their height and countering with a well-timed roundhouse.

I never really liked fighting hand to hand, and my punches had to feel like little more than a child's to these people—but there was no other option, if we were to end this without undue casualties…

My arms ached terribly; my elbows and fists were banged up something bad by the time the last giant fell, but nothing was permanently damaged—at least, for the kossiths. No offense meant, but they had such hard skulls. Luckily my platemail protected my tender human parts. Still… Ow. My head seemed about all but cracked in two; one should never headbutt with a helm on.

Sten

"So… Why aren't you topless?" The kadan was finally speaking, after a long silence. It was worrying when we had removed her armor, her knuckles and elbows were badly torn up—the blood already drying on the pale skin. The bandages that have been wrapped around those wounds were as tenderly done as I could have managed; if we were to allow her to use magic, these might already have been healed. And yet she did not complain. Curious.

The arishok had seemed satisfied, for now. She had bested some of the best warriors in the antaam but her first question to me did not make sense. "What?"

"Every other male qunari is topless, and covered in that fine warpaint. Why aren't you?" The look in her eyes—I could not describe it—but it unsettled me. They mirrored the sea and the sky, unfettered by the twisted evil the Qun warned against in the Saarebas, orbs sparkling in the light of the sun. Mages spread corruption—this was a fact. And yet neither she nor the other mage Warden displayed this when we travelled last, and I was starting believe that she was an exception. Perhaps.

"I will when I return to my duties."

"Good to know." A smile lingered on her lips as she looked away at the similarly dazed warriors, the ones who had lost the duel. They were alive and relatively unharmed; she had not wanted to take anyone's lives for the sake of a test. This did not sit well by the Qun, but the kadan had stood by her decision, the words uttered when she had knocked out the unit were determined and strong:

"Are we at war? It seems pointless to fight to the death when we are clearly on the same side. I really do not wish to deprive the Qun of its warriors."

She then sheathed her swords with a finality that spoke volumes, the ring of her blade echoing in the silence. The fight had been dangerous, but she won, as she always had in Ferelden—her performance never once disappointing.

"So what now? Can I stay in the barracks? With you?" Pashaara. Her questions were… perplexing.

xOxOx

P.S.: Hope you liked it! Please review!