Disclaimer: All Dragon Age:Origins characters, scenarios, locations, and dialog belongs to EA and/Bioware and are in no way mine.

Author's Note: Now, it was my intention to name these chapters after something Alistair had said in-game, but at the same time still have something to do with the story at hand. And perhaps I break the story up too much, but my attention span only goes so far. Hope you like it!

That morning, Joseph awoke to discover that Alistair was not at all a still sleeper. He wrinkled his nose at the way his friend had managed to get himself into a spread eagle position, laying half his body against Joseph's and his head on his own bedroll, drool trickling down into a pool already in the making. Joe chuckled, reaching over to tap Alistair on the forehead curiously. It was a curious thing, he had never been so close to anyone that he would calmly poke them awake if they had ended up in a situation like this. But the bond he seemed to have formed with Alistair happened over such a short period of time. Joseph supposed this was because of the fighting and the constant vigil for each other's safety, as well as their own. He was brought back from his trailing thought by a smack to his hand. Alistair apparently believed Joseph's prodding finger to be some sort of insect, swatting at it and mumbling incoherently to himself. Joseph laughed and instead moved to smacking the side of Alistair's face

"Hey! Get up sleepy head, you're making my arm numb."

"Mmnuh? Wha?" Alistair turned his head with a scowl, idly wondering who had the gull to slap him awake. With a rub to his eyelids, he stared blearily at Joseph, who was trying to sit up "Why did you have to go and wake me up for? I was dreaming...something wonderful." Joseph pointed at the other half of the templar's body that was sprawled over him as if someone had laid him there. Following his friend's direction he saw, he stared for a moment, and then he seemed to come to realize just what the situation was. Alistair immediately rolled over and onto his knees, apologizing in extremely fast speech that only made Joseph laugh. Joseph shook his head when Alistair donned an angry expression at being laughed at and tried to alleviate his worries.

"It's alright Alistair, not bothered in the least. Besides, we haven't got time to fret. We have to get going, treaties to run and such, you know?"

"Right!" exclaimed the templar, hurrying to his tent to equip himself while Joseph packed his things away and don his armor as well. The road to Lothering wasn't a very long one, but the back and forth of Alistair and Morrigan was making the trip feel like it was taking hours. Joseph turned back to look at the two, bickering about something or other, and noticed that Morrigan had managed to make Alistair blush, yet again. Joseph was beginning to think Alistair blushed quite a bit, for any number of reasons. And for whatever reason, the witch seemed to enjoy making him do so. She would only ever end the conversation or become satisfied until he did, or Joseph told them to quit. He figured he'd have his fun with Alistair though, smirking as he ordered Morrigan to walk ahead of them along with the Mabari warhound, whom Joseph had taken to calling "Dog" since his younger days. He couldn't remember when he got Dog, but he did remember him always being there. He hung back with Alistair while Morrigan took the lead as commanded, eliciting a sigh of relief from the warden.

"Thanks for that..." Alistair mumbled. He was shuffling his feet, looking rather glum after that last bought with Morrigan.

"Yea, you two go at it way too much, had to separate you for a while." He gave his friend a glance, then turned his attention forward again "Not a bad view though."

Alistair gave him a puzzling look "The landscape? It's nothing but fields."

Joseph chuckled and held his hands in front of his face, closing one eye and sparing a moment to focus on what he was referring to. "The land, and little miss bad attitude up there."

"You can't be serious..."

"You mean to tell me you don't think Morrigan's attractive?" Joe asked in near disbelief. She was indeed attractive, an exotic beauty. Joseph had no qualms at all with her current wardrobe, it displayed her body wonderfully. The curves of her hips and the legs that seemed to go on forever to him. She made no attempt to cover her bust, which he guessed was to keep men in her good graces. Dark hair put up in a bun and smirking voluptuous lips, but her eyes were what intrigued him the most, though he would never admit it. There was something about them, the way they twitched when she looked at something with scrutiny and how, even though she displayed a cruel demeanor, he thought he could see a hint of remorse in those amber pupils...or perhaps amusement. Either way, they made his heart skip a beat when she laid her gaze upon him and that's all he cared about for now.

"No, not at all! She's vile, cruel, and I don't trust her!" Alistair was quick to insult her and make known his dislike.

"Alright, think for a moment that you AREN'T blinded by morals and really look at her. You can't tell me she doesn't catch your eye at all? If she were a complete stranger in a village, you would not turn your head?"

"I, well..." the templar tilted his head and the trademark blush shown in the sunlight "..I suppose she is attractive."

"You see? Was that so hard?" Joseph teased

"Does that mean you'll be trying to court her then?"

It was Joseph's turn to blush, turning away from Morrigan to look at Alistair pointedly "No! Well, maybe. She doesn't seem to care much about my existence at the moment." Alistair was about to respond with his own advice when Morrigan spoke up ahead, pointing at the bridge. Joseph and Alistair sprinted forward, the former glad for the distraction. She was motioning lazily towards the structure now, apparently bored have having to inform anyone.

"Lothering is just over that bridge." She said airily, crossing her arms and looking at Joseph. He was busying himself with staring at the bridge, anything but look at her while Alistair was suspicious of his intentions, however right the templar may be. He spotted a group of men in front of what looked like a barricade. 'Guards?', he wondered as he motioned for the two to follow as he stepped forward. Alistair was only too happy to follow. Unfamiliar with responsibility most of his life, after Joseph started making suggestions in the swamp, Alistair quickly agreed to anything and made Joseph a sort of involuntary leader. Morrigan didn't seem to care either way.

"Wake up lads! There's business to attend to!" exclaimed a man in blueish leathers who gave the group a cheery smile as the three approached. "I'm afraid you'll have to pay a toll to cross into Lothering. Ten silver a person."

"Boss, thems don't look like the others. Maybe we should let them pass?" mumbled a larger man behind the supposed "leader"

"Nonsense! The toll is for everyone!" The man held out his hand expectantly. "Come on now, pay."

Alistair had leaned forward to whisper in Joseph's ear "Highwaymen...trying to make a profit off refugees I'd bet."

Morrigan scoffed, waving her hand about lazily as she regarded the men in front of them and didn't bother to hide the volume of her voice "These men are fools to stand in our way. They should be taught a lesson."

Joseph smirked, rather liking the idea and coming up with his own. He pulled his blade from it's holster on his back, sticking the point in the stone and resting his wrist on the pommel "I don't think we'll be paying today guys."

The leader, who was a good head shorter than Joseph, shook his head and reached slowly for his weapons "Can't say I'm pleased to hear that..." he gave the group a cunning smirk "..But rules are rules! Boys?"

Before the rest of the bandits could reach for their weapons, Joseph rolled his eyes and regarded the bandit "Come now, do you really think intimidating Grey Wardens is a good idea?"

"Grey Warden? Them whos killed the king?" exclaimed the fat one, looking a bit worried at his leader

"Grey Warden eh? The Teyrn put quite a bounty on your heads." His grinned widened

"But aren't they good?" the fat one interjected again "Like, real good? Good enough to kill a king?"

This gave the leader a cause for guard, releasing the grip he had on his weapons "You have a point. On second thought, we'll forget the toll. You just carry on with your Darkspawn-fighting, king-killing ways."

Joseph looked about the barricade the bandits had created and his smirk twitched into a grin. He waved his hand towards the leader "You know, the Grey Wardens could use a donation."

"Is that so?" He looked like he was about to refuse, but seemed to think better of it and smiled his plastic, business like smile. "How does twenty silvers sound? That's all we've collected today."

"That's all?" Joseph inquired, looking disappointed "Surely you could do better."

The leader scowled and went for his weapons for a second time "Screw it, get 'em!" He had barely given the command when two of his comrades had been sent soaring through the air and off the bridge. Joseph suspected that was Morrigan's doing but didn't stop to ask. He stepped back, taking his blade with him in a more-intricate-than-necessary twirl, bringing the butt of the handle into the leader's face with a fair bit of force. A crack was heard as the man's neck snapped backwards. Only after he collapsed on the stone, lifeless, did Joseph turn around to see Alistair and Morrigan already going through the chests, the rest of the bandits apparently dealt with swiftly. After they had collected everything they could find from the criminals, moving the bodies off the bridge and into the brush after Alistair had insisted they move them out of the way of newcomers, the three stood on the steps overlooking Lothering.

"So!" exclaimed Joseph, stretching his arms to the sky as he turned to the other two. Alistair looked slightly displeased, brow furrowed in thought while Morrigan wore her usual bored expression "What do we do next?"

Alistair seemed to perk up at this, holding up a hand "Actually, I've been thinking..."

"Finally decided to rejoin us, have you? Falling over on your sword in grief seemed like too much trouble, I take it?" Morrigan teased, her violet lips turning into a smirk.

Alistair scoffed "Is my being upset so hard to understand! Have you ever lost anyone dear to you? What would you do if your mother died!"

"Before or after I stopped laughing?"

"Right, very creepy. Forget I asked." He gave her a disgusted look while Joseph couldn't help but chuckle "Anyway, I think the suggestion Flemeth made is the best idea. Those treaties, have you looked at them?"

Joseph stilled, blinking in silence for a few seconds before reaching around to his pack "Oh right, those. No, I haven't."

Alistair managed a smirk "We have three treaties, the Dwarves of Orzammar, the Dalish Elves of Brecilian Forest, and the Circle of Magi. They will be obligated to give us aid during the Blight, and Arl Eamon, I think, is the best source of aid."

Joseph nodded as he took all this in, not bothering to ask Morrigan her advice, partly afraid of what it might be and thrust his fist into the air, causing the other two to raise an eyebrow and gaze at him questioningly.

"We have our heading! I say we stay in Lothering for the time being, collect ourselves, set a course, resupply and what not. Onward!" He marched down the stairs, stopping only to look at the two with his fists on his hips "Well come on then!" Alistair shrugged and followed obediently, whilst Morrigan sighed and made her way down slowly

"I have no intentions of tailing after you two while we are here. I will be in the tavern once we are ready to leave." She said smoothly, turning on heel almost immediately and heading off into the town.

"Remind me why you fancy her again?" Alistair asked with crossed arms and a skeptical look at Joseph.

The noble watched after her for a moment before scratching his chin in mock interest "You know, I'm not sure anymore. I'll think of something though." He grinned, patting the templar on the shoulder, who seemed happier than before. "Come on, let's see what trouble we can't get into here." The two set off into the village, heading towards the local Chantry. Joseph had some questions about these rumors the bandits had spoke of. If they held any grain of truth, they were in for a troubled journey.