Sorry this chapter is so long. I couldn't find a way to break it up.

Chapter 18: The Bannorn

It wasn't long before the sun was low in the sky. Aeden found a spot along the road that seemed to be used often for campsites, complete with a stone circle for a fire already in place. The group set up their newly acquired tents first and then Aeden took Dusty into the woods to hunt. While they were gone, Sten collected wood, Leliana collected twigs and dried grass for kindling, and Alistair and Delia prepared the new cooking pot and fire. Aeden and Dusty were successful in catching several pheasants, and after they were properly prepared Delia took over.

As she rubbed some herbs into the skin of the birds, Alistair walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, leaning over her to watch her work.

"Mmmmmm… how come dinner already smells better than when I cook?"

Delia looked up at him and smiled. "That's because your idea of food is a stew that is grey and mushy! I think you could learn how to be a decent cook. You just need to pay a bit more attention than you do."

He returned the smile and laughed. "I think it's best if I let you do it. I think Aeden would accuse me of trying to poison him and taking over as group leader. You know what would happen if I were the leader, don't you? We'd get lost, people would die, and the next thing you know I'm stranded somewhere without any pants!"

As they continued their light banter, Aeden watched from outside his tent. He didn't like the fact that Delia was getting closer to Alistair, but he didn't really know why. He had no hold on Delia. The only time they ever spoke about marriage was when their mothers brought it up, and it would always bring Aeden, Delia and Dairren to laughing fits. It just never seemed right, for some reason. The three of them were best friends, and Delia was the sister he had never had. Why did he now find himself feeling jealous?

Delia cooked the birds directly over the flame and prepared some potatoes to bake among the coals of the fire. While dinner was cooking she took the opportunity to organize the herbs she had been collecting. It was important to keep the elfroot and the cooking herbs away from the plants used for poisons. She didn't like to make poisons, but sometimes they were necessary. Morrigan walked over toward her and nodded her approval.

"You have been collecting many useful plants. I see that you have knowledge of both poisons and potions. I am confused, however, by some of these other plants you collect. Why are you interested in wild basil and garlic? Are there potion recipes you would be willing to share?"

Delia smiled at the mage. "Actually, these other plants I use for cooking. They can help the food to taste better. For instance, I took some wild mustard seeds and ground them up, then rubbed them into the skin of the pheasants I am cooking for dinner. I think you'll like the taste."

"I have never heard of using herbs for cooking. It is not something I ever learned from Mother in the Wilds. We shall see if your words are true, for I have always been taught that cooking is simply a necessity and we did it simply and quickly."

"I'll look forward to hearing your opinion, Morrigan." Delia watched as the mage walked back to her tent and then looked around at the various members of their group. Alistair was cleaning his armor, Aeden was throwing a stick for Dusty with Leliana watching in amusement, and Sten was practicing his battle stances. She sighed to herself. These people were all so very different, but as Alistair had once said to her it was truly amazing how the Blight brought people together.

As soon as the food was ready Delia called everyone over to eat. She was surprised that Alistair walked away from the group as soon as his food was plated. After serving the rest of the party, she took food for herself and walked over to where he sat.

Sitting next to him, she looked at his face. He seemed to be so deep in thought that she hesitated talking to him. Sighing softly, she decided to speak.

"Do you want to talk about Duncan?"

He looked down and softly replied, "You don't have to do that. I know you didn't know him as long as I did."

"That doesn't mean I don't mourn his loss."

"I… should have handled it better," he said with a sigh. "Duncan warned me right from the beginning that this could happen. Any of us could die in battle. I shouldn't have lost it, not when so much is riding on us, not with the Blight and… and everything. I'm sorry."

Delia moved closer to him and put her hand on his. "There's no need to apologize."

"I'd… like to have a proper funeral for him. Maybe once this is all done, if we're still alive. I don't think he had any family to speak of."

Delia looked sadly into his eyes. "He had you."

Alistair looked at her with a sad smile. "I suppose he did. It probably sounds stupid, but part of me wishes I was with him. In the battle. I feel like I abandoned him."

She squeezed his hand. "I understand completely."

Alistair chuckled. "Of course, I'd be dead then, wouldn't I? It's not like that would make him happier. I think he came from Highever, or so he said. Maybe I'll go there sometime, see about putting something up there in his honor. I don't know."

Suddenly he thought of the conversation he had with Delia back at the Wardens' campfire in Ostagar and he felt ashamed of himself. She had lost so much more than he had, and he was complaining about only his own problems. He looked at her, sadly.

"Here I am, going on and on about Duncan, and you've lost so much more. Your mother, brother and family friends… I'm sorry. Thank you, though…really, I mean it. It felt good to talk about it, at least a little."

"Maybe I'll go to Highever with you when you go."

He smiled at her. "I'd like that. So would he, I think."

They were quiet for a minute, and then Delia decided to ask a question.

"I'd like to ask something."

He smiled at her and answered, "Ask away."

"So… you said Arl Eamon raised you?" Delia bit her lip nervously.

Alistair could feel her nervousness and decided to lighten the mood. Giving her a lopsided grin he started a story. "Did I say that? I meant to say that dogs raised me. Giant, slobbering dogs from the Anderfels. A whole pack of them, in fact."

"Really?" Delia couldn't help but laugh. "That must have been tough for them."

"Well, they were flying dogs, you see. Very strict parents, too, and devout Andrastians, to boot."

"And these dogs sold you to the Chantry, I take it?"

Now it was his turn to laugh aloud. "Oh there you go, listening to me again." He continued to explain to her his life as the bastard son of a Redcliffe serving girl. Arl Eamon took him in when his mother died and raised him from a very young age until Eamon's new wife convinced him to send Alistair away to the Chantry at the age of ten. He was so upset that he was being sent away that he destroyed the only thing he had left of his mother, an amulet of Andraste, by throwing it in anger against a wall and shattering it. Alistair continued to tell her how he had a difficult time forgiving Eamon for sending him away.

Delia pondered his words and asked, "Are you sure he isn't your father?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure. At any rate, I don't look anything like him… you'll see for yourself."

"So… why have you remained a Templar if you hate the Chantry?"

That question earned another lopsided grin from Alistair. "Have you seen the uniform? It's not only stylish, but well made. I'm a sucker for good tailoring."

"Oh, I don't think I've ever seen you in it."

"I keep it under my pillow. Sometimes I'll take it out so I can hug it fondly and remember the good old days." He sniffed. "Brings a tear to the eyes, you know?"

Narrowing her eyes, Delia teased him. "Do all Templars make these jokes? Or just you?"

"Oh, you know, between all the guilt and the hours spent in solemn prayer, any good Templar or priest is just bursting to tell a few good jokes when the opportunity arises." He hesitated for a second, and then asked, "You don't really want to know about my being a Templar, do you? It's really quite boring."

With a mischievous glint in her eye, she answered him flirtatiously. "Then make up something more interesting."

"You know, I like the way you think. I guess if you're really curious, there's no harm in obliging. I have a couple of interesting moles that I could show you later, if you're interested," he said, his voice low and throaty. Clearing his throat, he continued his answer. "The truth of the matter is that I did hate going to the monastery. The initiates from poor families thought I put on airs, while the noble ones called me a bastard and ignored me. I felt like Arl Eamon had cast me off, unwanted, and I was determined to be bitter. But I took some solace in the training itself, I guess. I was actually quite good at it."

"What did you enjoy about the training?"

"The education, mostly, but also the discipline. You need to have a disciplined mind in order to use the abilities we have. It was difficult, but rewarding. I never really felt at home anywhere, though, until I joined with the Grey Wardens. And Duncan felt my Templar abilities might be useful for when we encountered darkspawn magic, so I kept it up."

Alistair hesitated for a second, and then spoke seriously. "What about you? Do you have anywhere you consider home?"

Delia looked to the ground and spoke softly. "I guess my home is with the Grey Wardens now. With you."

He was surprised. "It is? I… didn't know you felt that way. We won't always be traveling like this, you know. Once the war is over, once the Blight is… well, a time will come when we'll have to start thinking about having a real home again. Though that seems like a long way off."

They continued their conversation late into the evening, talking mostly about the Grey Wardens and Alistair's Joining. Delia found herself mesmerized by the sound of his voice, and his lopsided smile always made her heart skip a beat. It was easy to talk to him. He was articulate and charming, and he was especially adorable when she would get him to blush!

At a lull in the conversation, she blurted out, "Has anyone ever told you how handsome you are?"

He grinned, "Not unless they were asking me for a favor. Well, there was that one time in Denerim, but those women were… not like you. Why? Is this your way of telling me you think I'm handsome?"

"My lips are sealed," she answered flirtatiously.

He chuckled, and his grin grew wider. "Oh, I get it. I'll get it out of you, yet. Is this the part where I get to say the same?"

She grinned. "Not unless you don't think so."

"Oh, I think so. I'll just spring it on you when it's a surprise." He laughed heartily.

They sat in silence for a minute, and Alistair's face started to look almost too serious. Delia looked at him and wondered if something was wrong, but then he cleared his throat and started to speak again.

"You, know, being raised in the Chantry makes it a bit… difficult for me to talk about my feelings, especially when there's a beautiful woman involved."

"So, you do think I'm beautiful?"

He blushed from one ear to the other. "Yes, of course, but… Maker help me, it's hard for me to even think straight sometimes when I'm near you." He looked into her eyes, a warm smile coming across his face. "I know we haven't known each other for very long, but I realize that I… care for you. I think it's because we've already been through so much together, I don't know. Or maybe I'm imagining it. Maybe I'm fooling myself." He became serious again. "Am I? Fooling myself? Or… do you think you might ever… feel the same way about me?"

She blushed and looked at her feet. Her hands began to fidget nervously before she answered. "I don't know… it's too soon to say."

He moved closer to her, and putting his hand in back of her head he quietly spoke. "Well, is it too soon for this?" Then he kissed her, very gently and almost as soft as a whisper. He broke the kiss and pulled back, looking into her eyes for a hint of her feelings.

Delia was surprised by the kiss, but felt as though lightning passed through her body. She knew that her feelings for Alistair were beyond friendship, but she hadn't hoped that he would care for her in the same way. As her eyes found his, the look of hope and longing in his gaze made her feel weak.

"I don't know. I need more testing to be sure," she answered, her voice nearly inaudible.

"Well, I'll have to arrange that, then, won't I?" He smiled broadly.

Unknown to the two of them, Aeden was watching from across the campsite. The minute he saw Alistair kiss Delia, he ran toward them and leaped on Alistair. As he pummeled his fists into Alistair's face, Delia screamed at him to stop. Sten ran over to pull the younger warden off Alistair.

Delia was furious. "Sten, hold Aeden over there while I tend to Alistair's wounds. I will deal with him as soon as possible."

Sten dragged Aeden across the camp. The commotion caused Leliana and Morrigan to stand by and watch as Delia pulled some healing potions and poultices from her pack and bring them back to Alistair.

"I'm sorry, Alistair. I have no idea what is wrong with him! I have to clean your lip… he split it so we'll need to keep a poultice on it overnight. Maker… I have no idea why he would behave like that!"

"Well, at least if I was meant to be a practice dummy it was worth it." He grinned at her. "Ouch! I guess I can't really smile right now. At least I have a pretty girl to heal me."

She smiled at him. After cleaning his lip, she gently applied the poultice and had him drink a potion. There were several other minor cuts on his face, and it looked as though his eye would be black in the morning, so she used more poultices to stop the swelling and bruising.

"Now, Alistair, you stay here until I come back."

"Your desire is my command," he flirted.

Delia stomped across the compound to where Sten had Aeden seated on a log. Aeden wouldn't look at her and just sat glumly.

"What in the Maker's name was that all about? I can't believe that you attacked him for no reason! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"He kissed you!" He spat the words out as his eyes shot up at her in a fierce glare. "Just who does he think he is, anyway? He has no right to touch you."

"And who are you, thinking that you can make such decisions for me? You are not my father or my brother, and the last time I checked we were nothing to each other."

Her words stung him more than she realized. He looked at her like a kicked puppy.

"Nothing? But… you're all I have left! I've lost… everyone. My parents, my brother, his family… everything and everyone I ever knew is gone, except for you. I need you, Delia. Please… don't abandon me."

She took his face in her hands. "Aeden, you and I have been friends ever since I can remember. Why does it bother you if Alistair cares for me?"

He answered softly, "I don't want to lose you. I'm afraid that you'll abandon me for him."

"You cannot lose me. We are both pledged to the Grey Wardens and I don't intend to go anywhere. You are the closest thing to family that I have." She knelt in front of him and took his hand in hers. "Aeden Cousland, you have always been a brother to me. I promise you, I shall henceforth be your adopted sister. This gives you the right to watch out for me, and vice versa, but I warn you that it also means that I will nag you as only a sister can nag you, and I will stop you from making an arse of yourself when it comes to issues of how I live my life. You will not have the right to fly into jealous fits like a five year old child whose favorite toy is being played with by another. You are my family and I am yours. However, brother, you now have to walk over there and apologize to your fellow Grey Warden because you have indeed made an arse of yourself. You have to remember first and foremost that your sister is a grown woman and if she wishes to allow a man to kiss her it is her business, and you have to stay out of it!" She stood up in front of him and put her hands on her hips. "So, is this agreeable to you then? Or do you have romantic thoughts you have never mentioned to me? I don't know if I could handle that!"

His eyes softened and he smiled. "No, I don't think I could handle that either. I can't help but think about pulling your pigtails, so I guess the brother thing is better for me. And… I guess I do owe Alistair an apology. I just couldn't bear the thought of him taking you from me."

"Isn't it better then to consider him a part of our little Grey Warden family? It seems to me that you both get along fine as long as I'm nowhere nearby. Maybe you could realize that the three of us are stuck together, at least until we end the Blight, and that's a long way off yet."

He nodded. "You're right. I'll go apologize now."

He slowly walked toward Alistair, who watched him warily. As Aeden got close, Alistair grinned at him.

"So, checking to see if you missed a spot?"

Aeden looked over his face before he responded. "Actually, it looks as though I was pretty thorough." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Alistair. I shouldn't have done that."

"No lasting harm done. I just want to know, why? What did I do to get you that angry?"

"I was… just worried that I would lose the last person that I know. I didn't want to be alone."

Alistair stood and reached out his hand to Aeden. "We will never be alone, I swear it. You and I are the last Grey Wardens in Ferelden, and as such we are brothers until the end. I just need to know, am I stepping on your toes where Delia is concerned? Are you courting her? If that's the case, I will stop immediately. You knew her long before I did."

Aeden grasped Alistair's hand and grinned. "No, she would punch me if I ever tried courting her. We were never meant to be a… couple. She is more of a sister, and now that you both have assured me that I still belong here I feel much better. I guess I should have told her how I was feeling instead of assuming the worst. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course. I understand how you feel. We've all lost so much. We need to make certain that none of us are alone again. Not… ever."

With that, Morrigan walked out of the shadows, clapping her hands in applause. "Well, well. Delia asked me to give my opinion of the evening meal. I must say that while the food was quite tasty, I believe that the entertainment portion of the night was far more satisfying."

Both Alistair and Aeden rolled their eyes at the mage, but then burst out laughing. It just figured the apostate would be there to make them both wish they were alone.