"These potions are really helping. They've probably cut down your healing time to just a couple more days. It'll still be a bit painful to walk, but the wound will be mostly healed," Haiden said as he began wrapping her leg again. Sicilia had woke to him cleaning her wound.

"That's good. Where's the Arishok?"

"Getting you breakfast," said a deep voice. The Arishok had just returned, holding a large piece of bread and a bit of cheese.

"It's still not a good idea to move around a whole lot so be careful. I'll be back later to check on you," Haiden said before leaving.

The Arishok handed the meal to her and she took it. With her mouth watering, she said, "Thanks."

"What will you do now?" The Arishok sat hunched over in his chair, waiting a reply.

"Hmm?" she mumbled past the mouthful of bread. Sicilia wasn't sure of the question he asked.

"The tome has been returned; your purpose is fulfilled. What do you plan to do now?"

"I haven't really thought about it, actually. I imagine you want to get to Par Vollen as soon as possible. Whenever you leave, I'll probably just stay here until my leg heals. I had thought about going to Kont-aar, but I'm not sure."

"To become Viddathari?"

"I want to see my brother. Converting still scares me a bit," she laughed nervously.

"We will not depart until you are well enough to walk. Take that time to think about your purpose. One has been fulfilled, but you are still alive and, therefore, must have something else that requires you." The Arishok left her alone in the tent.

My purpose. Sicilia hadn't thought about it until now. She had been so focused on the relic that she hadn't even thought about what she would do once it was finished. One thing was certain, she would go to Kont-aar. If she could not figure out her purpose until then, her brother would have something to say that would help her. He always did.

"How are you doing?" Markl poked his head through the tent opening.

It was late afternoon; Sicilia had just woken up. The effects of the potions had made her drowsy. "Markl! I'm good; what about you? Has everyone been treating you well? I was a little worried."

"Actually, everything's fine. I'm viddathari, now," he said sitting on the ground next to the bed.

"I'm glad."

"He hasn't slept, you know," Markl said smiling. "The Arishok hasn't slept since we got here." Sicilia looked at him, studying his expression. Markl's smile widened, but he was serious. "Sicilia, he gave you his tent, his bed, and has stayed in here the whole time. He even helped Haiden with your burn; whenever Haiden asked him to do something, he did it without hesitation."

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked, placing her focus on her leg. The majority of the pain had left, but there was still a dull heat.

"Because I know you like him and now I know that he feels the same way, Sicilia." Markl stood from his spot and headed towards the tent opening. "If it's what you want, go for it. Just know that a relationship with the Arishok will not be an easy one. If you want a comfortable and calm life, stop now before you get hurt. If duty outweighs fear, purpose outweighs passion, and honor and respect are something you wish for above all else, then it's there; you just have to take it."

"Markl," she called before he left. "You remind me so much of my brother. Thank you."

It had been three days since Sicilia had been brought to their camp. Her leg had healed quickly. Though walking was still painful, the wound had closed completely. By the third day, she had finally managed to walk outside of the Arishok's tent. That night, she sat by the fire, watching its ethereal movements.

She hadn't seen much of Markl or Haiden. Apparently, they had been helping out around the camp. The Arishok, as far as she could tell, still hadn't slept and it was beginning to show. Three days was a long time, even for the Arishok, to not sleep. He never allowed his men to see, but Sicilia could tell in his face that fatigue was becoming a problem.

She had been thinking of what Markl and the Arishok had said for a while now. It had hit her recently that her passion for potions and poisons hadn't really been a passion. When she was focused on finding the tome, it has only become a helpful tool and a way to make easy coin. Her passion for battle, it seemed, had only been a way to accomplish her purpose, but it was still something she relished. Her previous purpose had far outweighed any passion she had.

At one point, she had even diminished her fear of the Qun. The more she thought about what her place would be, the more she had convinced herself that there was no way the Qun would look past her ability to fight and strategize. However, the minor fear still existed. In a way, she had decided already. Now, her only thoughts were of the Arishok.

What if what Markl said was true? Sicilia knew that she liked the Arishok, but she didn't know if those feelings extended past Kadan. Qunari were beginning to retreat to their tents for the night and she decided to do the same. Standing was the most difficult part, but once she got past that initial pain, the short walk was fine.

As she approached the tent, she noticed a deep steady breathing. She pushed the curtain open and found a sleeping Arishok. A giggle escaped her throat. He had been laying in his chair with his legs laying of one end. Sighing, she let the curtain fall behind her and limped over to the bed. She grabbed the blanket that usually covered her and laid it gently over him.

"You could've said something, you stubborn brute. I could've slept there while you got your bed back," she said to his sleeping form, not expecting a response. She sighed. "Thanks, though, for looking after me." He seemed so peaceful as he slept. His brow no longer was furrowed and all his muscles were relaxed. One arm had fallen from the side of the chair so Sicilia gently pulled it up, placing it under the blanket. She smiled before returning to the bed. The night air was cool, but she could handle it. After taking her dose of potions, she laid down and closed her eyes. "Goodnight, Kadan."

When he heard the steady breathing coming from her, he opened his eyes. The Arishok had been awake since she had covered him with the blanket. Since Sicilia had begun walking, he had decided to take the chance while she was out to lay down for a while. He actually hadn't expected to be asleep so long. He sat up and removed the blanket. He stood and walked over to the bed to place the blanket over her. The Arishok made sure to pull it up to her shoulders.

Laying back in his chair, his mind was filled with her. They would be leaving the day after next and he wondered if she would be joining them. The whole situation was difficult for the Arishok. Never before had he respected a female this much. He gave her his bed and never once had it bothered him. He had pretty much given up fighting himself, but now he was waiting on a sign from her. Before, he had thought that she might have liked the Viddathari, Markl, but they had hardly spoken in the past few days, which made him wonder if the person she had spoken of before could be him. Could it be me?

"Goodnight…Kadan," he said before closing his eyes.

"Morning," Haiden said as Sicilia began to stir. He had already started wrapping her leg.

"Morning," she groaned. She looked down at the blanket covering her and sighed. "Stubborn."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing," she laughed.

"How does it feel walking?" Haiden stood and gathered his things.

"It's still painful, but it's only a bad bruise sort of pain," she answered, rubbing her thigh.

"Well, it's healed fine and it's completely closed now. I'm only wrapping it to keep it from being scratched or hit, but you should be good to start sparring again."

"Great," she said swinging her legs off the side of the bed. "Haiden?" He turned to her. "I think I'm going to go to Kont-aar with Markl and the Arishok. What will you do now that this is all over?" Sicilia knew that this conversation would come sooner or later. When Haiden had told her of his feelings, she hadn't really given him a straight answer, but now she had to.

"Actually, I'm leaving today."