A/N: This is so much easier to write than the other one; so much more freedom! xD

Hope you enjoy reading! Thanks to all my subscribers and reviewers!

Chapter 2:

Dissatisfaction

Sten

Even though it had been proven that the kadan could fight, there were still rules to follow; one could not simply disregard the Qun in matters like this. She had to be with the women.

"So I'm to stay with the tamassrans." She wasn't altogether happy with the arrangement, but she was not going to fight it in her present condition. At least, I would trust her not to—one could never tell with these humans.

"Yes."

"And you'll be headed to the barracks?" One of the aides to the tamassrans had been summoned, to show her the way to the buildings in which the teachers stayed. It was very far from the compound in which the soldiers lived.

"Yes." The dismay in her demeanor was obvious, but neither of us could do a thing to change it.

"Oh."

"Disappointed, kadan?"

"Verily. I'll do my best to stay out of trouble then." The elf who was leading her away seemed most unsure—almost hesitant to carry the kadan's platemail. Her undershirt and leathers were stained with blood and sweat, and I almost stopped them; the human did not seem to belong away from the battlefield. But the teachings that might prove otherwise.

xOxOx

It was about a week before I saw her again, she had brought the evening meal to our returning units; we had faced a small skirmish in which several of our brethren had died. The Tevinter mages were persistent in pushing the borders. She handed the meals out with a nod and a quiet "Shanedan", which was surprising, but pleasantly so, and it seemed to earn the respect of the karastens in my unit.

"You're learning the qunari tongue?" The word was a greeting, and it was a welcome one after our days spent in the forest. The kadan sat down next to me, her tasks for the day were done.

"Why so surprised? I want to learn more about your people. So far they've put me on kitchen duty, as well as in lessons with the children. I'm thinking they want to hide me away or something, so I might as well attain a new skill while I'm here."

"Do you… like it here, kadan?"

"Very much—it is peaceful. At least, in comparison to Ferelden." She paused, lips brushing the knuckles of her almost healed hand. "But I'm first and foremost a Grey Warden, Sten. We fight the darkspawn because we are sworn to. And I… must leave soon, since I would not be of any value added to your people—especially since being a Warden is apparently what I do best. Your people really like their food less… fancy."

"You were chastised for attempting stew?" She had made those when we traveled together during the Blight—although not unpleasant, it was too… rich for normal meal.

"It's a simple enough dish. Not dissimilar to the bread and soup. Now if only they'd let me near the cakes…" She was hugging her knees, looking pensive. I was done with my meal and looked over at her, wondering if she were homesick. It appeared that she had embraced the qunari way of dress, the little fabric exposed her many battle scars as well as that tattoo just below the nape of her neck. It would seem that the elf—that Crow, was right. It was the Grey Warden insignia.

The kadan was listless—as a Bas, it was understandable that she was dissatisfied, or that domesticity did not suit her. She was not of the Qun, and would likely never be.

Kiera

I had a plan—to bake cookies, but to that, I would need the ovens the cooks were so protective over. I had the recipes and the access to flour, milk and eggs. Demeaning it probably was, one of the Order handling tasks such as these, but I wasn't going to argue with the arishok and earn his wrath. Yet. I missed fighting—the only thing I was truly good at. I had taken to walking the perimeter of the tamassrans' buildings at night, surreptitious magic trailing little sparks along the edge of the walls; I had so much excess energy that it was difficult to sit still at times.

Perhaps I should train in my free time, away from the precepts of the Qun— maybe outside the compounds? I could feel myself putting on some weight, and I sometimes longed for the feel of the metal that I had become so accustomed to. It was lonely, sometimes, being an outsider in the qunari lands—they did not trust me to speak with the others, and assiduously attempted to convert my ways. It made for some rather awkward conversations.

P.S.: I keep trying to envision qunari dress, but since the place does seem rather… warm compared to Ferelden (they have forests like the Brecilian) —I assume that they'd be wearing a lot less, like in the concept art.

These words I got from the Dragon Age Wikia on Qunari Language:

Tamassrans- A priest who is charged with educating the young. Exclusively a role for women.

Shandedan- A respectful greeting.

Karastens- Soldiers.