If Talia had not been listening, looking for someone, or something to happen, she would have missed it. As it was, she heard the near silent steps, then felt the weight on the branch where she sat perched. Her golden eyes did not move toward the visitor, but she knew who it was. Only one woman wore that scent. Only one woman, the Nightingale herself.

"You are a long way from home Talia." The Spymaster began, her accent both soothing and scratching at Talia's mind.

The Antivan blinked, though it was a normal reaction as her gaze shifted to scan the horizon again. She was on watch duty, something that kept her away from the prying eyes of the Inquisition, but not out of Leliana's reach, obviously.

"No words?" Leliana prodded again.

Talia kept her eyes on her duty, but finally spoke. "I am not Her anymore."

"So I see. No one has shown up dead, and you have been avoiding most of us, which makes me wonder just why you are here." Leliana shifted slightly closer, watching and waiting for anything that would give the Antivan at her side away.

"The Herald hired the Chargers in the name of the Inquisition, so all hands were called in."

"Such stories may work for the others, but you and I both know that is not all."

A tense silence sprouted between both women that lasted near an hour. Both remained quiet, hidden under their hoods, faces neutral. Neither would speak, but both were communicating in their own way. It was only as the sun set over the peaks that Leliana chose to speak. "So, you left them."

Talia nodded, "With his help."

"He was always a romantic in such things." Leliana agreed. "He also has a weakness for the pretty ones."

Another long pause as the start of a snow fall began to glide down to the world as more silent communication passed between the two women. Talia had tensed, and she knew that the former bard had noticed when she spoke again.

"I have not told anyone, though Josie will know when she sees you. As far as she knows, you died."

That made her smile. The irony, Talia thought. "As far as the Game knows I did."

Leliana paused at her words. It suddenly dawned on her that she sat near a mirror of her past self. She was reminded of her feelings when the Hero of Ferelden found her in Lothering. She was trying to find a knew life back then, and was given the chance. Perhaps the Maker guided you here, Raven.

"Now what happens?" Talia asked, her mouth beginning to show signs of curving into a frown.

"We go back to Haven and you stop hiding, little Raven. We will speak more of this, of course."

Talia sighed and closed her eyes. Leliana was gone, her weight now removed from the branch they had both shared. She had vanished silently, and this time, Talia was unable to hear anything as she left. Her sound earlier had been on purpose. It was a humbling moment, though a twinge of lost fears sprung to the front of her mind. The Spymaster of the Inquisition knew who and what she was. The safety she had found in the Chargers would vanish when she returned to Haven. It did not matter if she were to stay with the Inquisition or not, the moment she did leave she would have to return to hiding, take another name or kill to keep it.

I liked this life...while it lasted. Well, shit.