A/N: So we have I think a couple more to the end. Please, enjoy!

Chapter 17:

Warden-ed.

Sten

The first thing I remembered was the voice. It was her voice.

"Since the first, these words have been spoken at the ceremony: Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant.

Someone was holding me up, guiding me up, upwards towards cooler surroundings. I remembered the cavern.

Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn.

My arms were heavy. It was hard to think. The sluggishness was rather acute.

And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Something was forced through my lips, and the liquid scorched its way down. It left a bitter aftertaste.

And that one day we shall join you."

I opened my eyes and the fire that had burned in my chest, the weakness that had pervaded my limbs—gone, quenched. Something else was left in its place. A muttering.

"Shok ebasit hissra. Meraad astaarit, meraad itwasit, aban aqun. Maraas shokra. Anaan esaam Qun."

The kadan was indeed more fluent in the qunari tongue, murmuring prayers for the dead. She did not have to burn their bodies, shells were all that were left of them.

Struggle is an illusion. The tide rises, the tide falls, but the sea is changeless. There is nothing to struggle against. Victory is in the Qun.

She remained in my vision; her figure was hunched in front of the towering flames, seemingly dozing off in the lull that had fallen around us. A large bonfire blazed away, a sure signal in the wilderness.

"Kadan…" The woman looked up, directly at me. Her eyes were filled with tears, but these she wiped off in a hurry. Why was she grieving?

"Sten—I couldn't… save them." More tears welled up before she turned her back on me, staring into the pyre that stood before her.

"The karashoks? It was not your fault."

Her voice was bitter, filled with anger—at herself, it seemed. "I led them here. I'm the mage. I should've known that—"

"This expedition was of their own volition." I finally reached her. She was trembling.

"Doesn't matter. I failed them."

I found myself gripping her still-shaking shoulders. "You have not. You killed the bas. They will not be corrupted."

She remained silent, brows furrowed; biting her lip so hard that she began to bleed. Again. I guided her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes.

"You have not failed me."

That frown became a tentative smile. That was all I needed, it seemed. My heart calmed.

xOxOx

Kiera

The ashes of the fire were all that were left of the karashoks, all that I had left of them. The arishok had accepted my report of the place; the fire I built drew the attention of scouts in the area—we would not have made it back otherwise.

I had the place razed to the black dirt that it had been dug out of.

"The area is… secure?"

Perhaps I had chosen my words poorly. The arishok seemed confused.

"I think it's safe to assume that the darkspawn population will not be burgeoning any time soon."

He seemed relieved, but something still bothered him. "Then we thank you for your service."

"There is one more thing, arishok." I flinched as those heavily-lidded eyes turned upon me once more. I did not really want to add to the burdens he currently bore.

"The qunari now have a Grey Warden amongst them."

He did not comprehend, obviously. I really needed to speak plainly. As I searched for the right words to explain my meaning, he came to a conclusion on his own.

"The Sten?" Apparently, he understood. Now, I was beginning to worry. My logic leaps were beginning to affect the leader of the qunari army.

I nodded—words didn't seem necessary anymore.

"Then I will see to it that he is reassigned to a role more fitting."

Thus, I left the hall— a little reassured that throughout all of this, there was one person who was willing to look out for Sten. I wanted to get my things in order, and thus, directed my feet towards the barracks. I was leaving Seheron soon.

I did not expect myself to be accosted on the way, by that mara who had shown herself to be quite the convert.

"Is it true?"

"Is what true?" No one wanted anything to do with me when we got back; I was deemed an outsider, yet again. I didn't blame them. Everything I touched, I tainted. Everyone I knew—got hurt.

"That you are a Sarebaas." Ah. So that was what got everyone into a tizzy.

"And you think I would reveal this to you— how?"

"Is that a yes?"

I rolled my eyes. "No."

"Lying will not solve a thing, Warden. Your wounds heal altogether too fast, too quickly for it to have been otherwise; the scouts say that the fire that consumed the entrance to the Underground was unearthly. And the Sten's obsession—"

I lost control of my temper, drawing close to the offending woman. "I will not threaten you for you are a Viddathari. But know this, if I were a Saarebas—it would not be wise for you to confront me so exposed, out here in the empty courtyard."

"And… you—would do—what?" She was most brave, to stand up to me when I was in this foul a mood.

I did not pause, murmuring the word as I walked away, and it alone froze her in her steps. Katara. She and I both knew that it was possible. Far too entirely so.

P.S.: Cannot thank everyone enough for the continued readership! Hope you liked it!