Tamlen groaned, it was midday and he was still in bed, and it pissed him off. The young lady Cousland had returned to the castle to speak to the arlessa, Alistair had gone out to help rebuilding what had been destroyed along side with Duran. Lyra had not gone back to his room after she had gone with Alistair, but nor had she returned in the morning and a few words with the nurse had shown that she had not returned to her own room either.

Had his leg been well then he would have looked for her. Had his leg been well then he most likely wouldn't have to look for her, he would just have followed when she left. Had his leg been well then he would most assuredly not have to face the indignity of having an old healer helping him whenever nature called to him. He slammed his fist into the soft bed, heaving a sigh. If he could just stay still today then he would be able to walk around tomorrow, and if he took it easy then they could leave the festering hole that was Redcliffe Village.

Tamlen looked around at the now all too familiar room. The only thing that had a spark of interest was the book Lyra had been reading, though he was determined not to pry. As the long minutes went by that determination faltered slowly and he picked up the book, looking at the cover, a finger marking what progress Lyra had made. There was no title, no anything. He held it there in his hands for a minute before agreeing with himself that there was no harm in reading a bit. He carefully marked an otherwise blank page where Lyra had last been and started at the first page.

Day one;

Duncan pulled me aside again and presented me with this book. He suggests that I should write a journal and how I feel.

I feel alright today but Tamlen looks pale, much worse than before we left camp, Duncan says he will recover but his eyes says that he lies. The human girl dismissed my thanks for saving Tamlen.

Day three;

Duncan says I must write even when I feel bad. I feel bad!

Tamlen trailed the pages, he had not even known she kept a journal. He felt slightly bad at just reading it, but since he was already going.

Day seven; We near this Ostagar and I begin to worry about the Joining though now it is Tamlen's only hope, and perhaps mine as well. Duncan dismisses my questions and the girl does not know any more than I. Tamlen looks better, though his fever has gone up. My healing potions don't help anymore and I fear that we will not get to Ostagar in time.

I had a horrible dream,it was the beyond. I recall seeing it before but I do not recall when, I fear I may simply slip away one of these days or maybe Tamlen will...

Day Eight;

I had the nightmare again, Duncan does not want to talk about it. The girl keeps talking about me to Duncan like I can't hear her. Tamlen says he is better but he lies, his fever is even worse and I fear the worst. I wish we had never found the humans!...

Day Eleven?

Met Alistair today. We got maps. Cure soon.

Day Thirteen;

We got cured, and that is the best that happened in Ostagar. Alistair is sleeping but the kind nurse tells me he will be fine. They say he was ambushed in the Tower and survived by killing an ogre but could not light the beacon with his injuries.

Tamlen is also depressed these days, I try to cheer him up but he prefers to stay alone, maybe I should give him the time he needs.

The human girl keeps snapping at me so I stole a pendant of hers, a pretty one with a glyph on one side. Tamlen may prefer violence but if they try to take my pride away then I try to take they coin away – a fair deal as always!...

Day Fourteen;

The army stinks more than before, I can almost see the air, traveling at the back of the column as we do.

Alistair is better he spoke a bit to the nurse, Tamlen seems better for it too...

Tamlen flipped quickly through the pages, letting his eyes read a few lines only to jump onto the next, still partly unwilling to let himself read everything.

Tamlen told the most wonderful story, he should have joined me to entertain the children back at our last Clan meeting. I think he feels the changes in our nature as well. The Joining has done something, though how to use it yet. I can sense the other Wardens around me now, also others if I focus. I wonder if the rest feel the same...

Tamlen skipped forward a few days.

Redcliffe Village soon. The nightmare continues, even in the day time. I feel like something claws at my mind constantly, it just won't stop! Maybe every new Gray Warden goes through this, yet no one else complain...

It is like my dream, they are dead, everyone of them. They will close in and suffocate me if I let them.

Tamlen's leg was injured, and a deep cut in his arm. Been keeping myself busy helping those I can, mimicking the nurse.

Bathed Tamlen.

So tired, but I won't sleep...

I can't sleep, the nightmares will get me to me this time. It is not as intense when I am awake...

The more he read the more obsessed the thoughts had become. There was no doubt, she would try to get rid of the nightmares, but how? The Chantry might know, or perhaps the healer at the Castle, or maybe she confided in Alistair...

Tamlen got out of bed, careful not to put any weight on his bad leg and hopped into the hallway. "Nurse!" He called, though he expected it to be futile, the nurse had many patients but in his function as Gray Warden she had spared some time to him especially.

"Anything wrong?" called a villager he didn't know down from the common room. "I need to send word to Alistair, the human Gray Warden, quickly!"


Alistair wiped the sweat from his brow. His muscles felt tired but in a wonderful way. He had been working hard these last few days, saving people and now also helping them rebuilt. The men had been almost hostile towards him earlier that morning but as Alistair asked to help rebuilding they had begun to see him as something of a friend. Already the skeleton of three houses had been erected, the wood for the walls were still getting ready though that would not take forever. With luck the first house would be ready for a family the day after this.

"Ser Alistair, Warden!" Alistair looked towards the call, not quite seeing who called.

"I am Alistair!" He called back into the crowd. A second late the boy who had greeted them at the edge of town fought his way through the mass of bodies.

"Message to you from Sister Naarin, the sister taking care of the elf with the wounded leg."

Alistair took the parchment.

Alistair,

Tamlen is convinced that Lyra has gone off in search of a cure to her 'nightmares'. The Chantry has not spoken with her and she has not returned to her room since yesterday evening when you spoke to her. Tamlen would like you to think if you remember anything and send word. I forced him back in bed when Jawlen came to me saying the elf was out of bed, shouting like a madman. If you can then find the girl or just calm your friend down, I don't have time to deal with missing people as well.

Sister Naarin.

Alistair considered what they had spoken about the day before, she had indeed mentioned some nightmares, but those were common for Wardens just after initiation, and even months later. But if she had thought to 'cure' it then what would she do? As a Templar Alistair knew that there was a connection between the Fade and dreams, as well as between the Fade and mages, what if she knew the same. She might seek out a mage. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the list of mages in Redcliffe was limited to a certain blood mage who was currently locked up.

The lock might not stop Lyra though. He was sure that the girl was a thief, and despite that, he had never, even once, seen her taken anything from anyone. So either she was that good or else she was quite reluctant.

Alistair considered it, would she really go to a blood mage for aid? Everyone knew blood mages were dangerous! Reguardless of if she did or didn't then he would have to look in on the mage, he was a Templar though perhaps not in name. It was part of his duty to be sure mages were not running wild.

"Tomas, can you tell Tamlen, the elf with the leg, that I'll be looking for Lyra and that he should stay put?"

Tomas eyed Alistair, seeming to weight the request. "Fine, I'll do it, but only 'cause you are a Warden fellow!"

"Works for me" smiled Alistair, ruffling the kids hair.


Of cause, what did elves know of magic, blood or otherwise. He let out a curse and ran a bit quicker towards the castle. Lyra had left yesterday evening, chances were that if she wanted then she could have freed the mage and been back for breakfast. Either she didn't visit the mage or else something went wrong.

Alistair ran through the open gates to the castle, the few guards who were at their post didn't question him. He turned right heading directly for the garrison, sending one of the guards to get the lady Cousland to join him in the prison while getting another of the guard to follow him. The guards followed without a word, thankfully, and Alistair only just remembered to bring a sword as he was passing a weapon rack. It felt great when some things just worked out. There were torches burning down in the dungeon though it seemed to be an even more eerie quiet than he would have imagined.

Not wholly surprising Alistair found the cell empty, the wards carefully broken and the lock either picked or opened by a key.

"What now?" asked the guard, he couldn't have been much more than twenty, just a few years younger than Alistair.

"Grab one of the torches and follow me, with luck the passage way will still be open."

Alistair went to the wall, sure enough, the secret passageway was still open, but why? Maybe it slipped her mind or maybe she left it open when the mage took control of her. Focus, we need to find them first!

"I'll go first and you follow behind, let the door stay open we don't want to shut ourselves in."

The guard swallowed a lump and did as he asked, opening the doorway wide – just to be sure that it wouldn't lock behind them.

Alistair had taken the torch, though it helped only a little, though he could run without falling, something that, by the sounds and curses, the guard behind him was having trouble doing.

"h- how far does this lead, ser?" the guard asked, panting and wheezing as he was keeping up with Alistair. Alistair was only in his normal clothing but the guard had been running in a mixture of studded leather and chainmail, and the strain was taking it's toll.

"It can't be far," Alistair dared look backwards for a quick glance seeing the kid fighting to keep up with him. They would need a break when they got up the ladder. "Just a bit more and-"

While looking backwards Alistair's foot hit something falling forward. In a reflex his arms tried to catch onto something and struck another object with the torch knocking Alistair sideways and the torch free from his grasp.

Alistair landed on something living or recently dead as the case may have been – as it didn't move. In the dim light he could just make out the dark hair and the outline of Lyra's features – why was she lying here.

"Damn it all!" cried another voice further ahead, he had taken the torch and was running further along the tunnel.

"Stop!" Cried Alistair, trying to rise from the girl who had broken his fall. "Soldier, get her back to the castle, I'll get the mage."

"R- Right, y-yes ser, will do!"

Alistair moved past Lyra's body and moved on ahead, an anger starting to rise in his gut, not just for the mage but for Lyra as well. How could she let herself be so reckless?! She had always seemed so grounded.

The mage had gotten too much of a head start, and the torch was no longer visible, the ladder must be soon. Alistair kept a hand in front of his face and tried to hurry a bit more, causing him to stumble a few times. When the ladder finally came it still came as a surprise, knocking him backwards to the floor.

A way up was the swinging light of a torch. Alistair hurried up as fast as he could, gaining on the mage. The mage soon stopped at the hatch leading into the windmill which served partly as cover for the secret route. The mage seemed to have problems though, waving the torch widely. Maybe Lyra locked it when she used it to get in?

The light at the top of the ladder disappeared as did the mage – she hadn't locked it. Alistair held back a curse and continued upwards. At least he was gaining on the mage though in his hurry to get up the ladder the sword had begun to nick his leg.

Alistair reached the top of the ladder only to find that something was keeping the hatch closed. Alistair braced himself and pushed, whatever was on top of the hatch gave way only to come down on him again. A little more strength. Alistair pushed again, this time as much as he could hand whatever had obstructed the hatch was cast off. He moved upwards showing the interior of the mill much as they had left it the day before.

The hatch swung shut, catching Alistair while he was getting up. It hammered him over the head and it was enough, he had not considered that it might have been the mage who had been trying to keep the hatch shut rather than a crate.

He shock and pain of it had made him let go with his hands and with only one foot holding him up he was pushed back into the darkness of the passageway. As Alistair was pushed down the foot holding him up slipped in the darkness, hurting like a hound had bit him. He was about to pummel to the depths below when he caught onto the ladder with one hand, though his ankle which had for but a moment supported all his weight must have twisted badly.

A click from the hatch above suggested that the only way forward was going back to the castle – through the long dark corridor with a twisted ankle and a foul mood. Lovely, could the day have gone any better?