Something was nagging at Elissa.

She couldn't put her finger on it, but something about the battle that day just didn't seem right. Maybe it was because it started so similarly to Zevran's failed assassination attempt? She thought for a minute then mentally shook her head. Coincidences don't normally make me feel like something is wrong.

She looked around the campfire. Nathaniel was cooking dinner, crouching by the fire while he stirred the stew he was cooking in a large pot. Erlina was sharpening her blades, frowning at something Oghren was saying. Oghren then threw his head back and laughed, and she caught a look of chastisement on Erlina's face. Good luck with that, Erlina. She smiled a little. Anders had let Ser Pounce-A-Lot out and was petting the feline while he talked to Eleanor, who continued to sit with her head bowed down. She glanced away to the closest campfire nearby, where Zevran was patiently waiting for their prisoner to awaken.

She studied Eleanor intently then. The nagging feeling was still there, and it bothered her more the more she looked at the woman. She had cleaned up quite nicely and Elissa's clothing wasn't overly large for her, although she had to wear the same boots that she had worn before since Elissa had no extras. But, it seemed that Eleanor's boots were in good shape. The leather reflected the firelight, so they weren't scuffed badly, and Elissa's breeches tucked into the tops of the boots just fine, so the clothing would keep out the worst of the cold.

Elissa shook her head. I'm being paranoid. She decided to walk over to see how Zevran was faring. She got up and wandered to the other campfire and sat down by her friend.

"How is he doing?" she asked in greeting.

Zevran looked up from sharpening his blades. "He sleeps yet. It is curious – I did not hit him that hard. I would have expected him to wake up by now."

"He has been out for a long time, hasn't he?" Elissa mused. "Should I send Anders over here to look him over? Maybe he already had a cracked skull and you happened to hit him on an already injured spot."

Zevran shook his head. "No, my dear Warden, that is not necessary. The young lady was here and stayed with him for a time. She said he just needed to rest." He put his daggers back in their sheathes and leaned back, stretching his feet out before him. Elissa watched the movement and then realized something. I just saw those same boots.

She lowered her voice. "Zev, you should go and see if Nathaniel is finished cooking dinner. Get yourself something to eat. When you do, look at Eleanor's boots and come back to tell me what you see."

"But of course, my good friend." Zevran raised in one graceful motion. "Should I bring back some food for you?" He smiled at her, but his eyes were cautious. He understood what she was getting at.

"No, I'll go over when you're done. I'll watch over our prisoner until you get back." She turned then, keeping one eye on the prisoner and one on the campfire where her comrades were sitting. Zevran spoke to Nathaniel, a smile on his face, and Nathaniel ladled him out a bowl of the stew. Zevran then turned and walked to where Eleanor and Anders were sitting, and bowed deeply, bowl in hand, offering the food to the young woman. Eleanor said something as Anders and Nathaniel shook their heads, then Zevran turned back to the fire where Nathaniel started ladling out another bowl of stew. Quite the charmer, as usual. Elissa smiled.

Once Zevran had gotten his own food, he walked back to where Elissa was sitting and sat down, bowl in hand. "Your eye is still excellent, my dear," he murmured. "Those boots are Antivan, and while they are simple in appearance, they cost more than any Ferelden peasant could possibly hope to make in a year."

Elissa nodded. "Enjoy your stew, Zev." She lowered her voice. "Check to see what's keeping our prisoner asleep when you can do so without notice." He nodded at her, putting a spoonful of his food in his mouth. She then got up and went to see about eating.

Elissa went to get a bowl of stew for herself and sat next to Nathaniel, eating and watching everyone interact while she thought some more. Eleanor finished her food and excused herself, saying she needed to sleep. She got up and went into her tent.

After the tent flap closed, Elissa caught Anders' eye and made a quick motion with her head as she got up and walked away from the fire. Anders got up and followed her. As soon as she was sure they were out of earshot of the group, Elissa turned. "I have a couple of questions for you," she said quietly.

"What is it?"

"How many lyrium potions did you give Eleanor during the battle? And did you give her any after?"

"Only two, and they were low potency. I didn't give her any afterward."

Elissa nodded once. "Is it possible to do healing and bandaging all afternoon on those potions you gave her?"

His eyes widened. "Not without some good rest every so often, it isn't. Not for someone who hasn't had advanced training as a mage and who is supposedly low on mana."

Elissa nodded again. "Something odd is going on here and I don't like it. I think it's centered around her. Can you quietly go check the prisoner Zev is watching and then the templars who lived? And I think we need an extra watch tonight who stands well out of spell range for paralysis or sleep spells."

Anders' eyes widened. "I'll go check on them now." He turned to go.

Elissa decided to go see the injured templars and wait for them to wake up, once she had revised the watch schedule.

-0-0-0-

Elissa winced as she watched Oghren sway and fall to the ground. At least he's done that before. I hope he didn't hurt his head too much. He was actually sober this time. After a few moments, a tent flap opened and Eleanor peeked out. Satisfied that everyone was asleep, she exited the tent and stood up straight. She walked over to the next campfire, stepping over Erlina's unconscious form, and headed straight for the prisoner. She started to cast, her hands glowing brighter by the second. Elissa nodded to the man next to her and took aim.

Her arrow went cleanly through Eleanor's shoulder, interrupting the mage's concentration and causing her to lose the spell. Eleanor looked up just in time to see the enormous man in full plate, emblazoned with Andraste's Sword of Mercy, running at her. He shouted a prayer and she went pale as he rammed into her, knocking her down. She started reaching for her waist but the man grabbed her wrists, pinning her to the ground, as Elissa ran up with her bow trained on the woman's neck. Eleanor hissed in pain.

"Do you have the restraints?" Elissa asked. The man nodded and produced a pair of manacles with runes engraved on them. He proceeded to shackle Eleanor. Elissa searched her for weapons, finding a dagger in her waistband and another in her boots. Elissa turned to the templar then.

"Can you hold her still while I remove the arrow and bandage her?"

He nodded again and laid the mage on her side, holding her immobile, while Elissa held her shoulder and grabbed the arrow. "This will hurt," she warned, and produced a dagger. She swiftly cut the shaft of the arrow then finished pushing it through Eleanor's shoulder as the mage whimpered in pain. She immediately pulled the shirt off Eleanor's shoulder, ripping the fabric, and produced a pair of health poultices from a small bag that was tied around her waist. She put one on each side of the injury and then wrapped them up in bandages. When she was done, she nodded to the templar, who sat Eleanor up and then let go. Elissa sat down in front of Eleanor and stared at her uncompromisingly.

"Eleanor," Elissa stated, "we need to talk."