Just wanted to say a shout out to the people who read and review my story, it means a lot thanks. hope you like the rest of it.

Reminder: i don't own DAO bla bla bla

Fayne's hand froze on the young man's face as he looked at her. She did not know when he started to watch her, but he seemed calm, his green eyes held a contemplative cold look that made her feel like she was a deer in the gaze of a wolf. She feared if she moved the man would attack her. It seemed like eternity until the world started to move again and she regained her wits. Quickly she retracted her thin fingers and shuffled to the foot of the bed. Now at a respectable distance to the man, she was able to collect her thoughts and conduct herself like the noble she was.

"It is wonderful that you are awake, Duncan seemed most worried about you…" Fayne left an opening for the elf to say his name, but nothing came. He just propped his body on his elbows and gave her a calculated stare. The tattoos on his face caught her eye again and her curiosity got the better of her.

"Where did you get the designs on your face, they are most…interesting looking, I have seen no elf with them other than you." For some reason this seemed to have upset the man, his brows drew down together as he sat up fully. Fayne was shocked to see that this elf had managed to make her look so small, his broad chest was an unusual site on an elf.

For the first time he spoke, and it was in a scathing tone, "these designs as you call them are not art Shem! They are a piece of my people's culture, they are representations of our heartege. And you see no other flat ears with these markings because they are too weak to be their own person. Instead they bow to people such as yourself"

Fayne did not know what to do, the man had been so contemplative and now he was like a man scorned. How could he despise her so much from such little contact? She quickly put the mask of nobility over her shocked face and stood up tall.

"I am sorry that I have upset you…sir." she rounded the bed and headed for the door. If the man was going to treat her as such then she would leave him to his injuries.

She heard a sigh from behind her, "You can stay, I was told to be polite to you and it seems I have failed at Duncan's request. I care not for your kind, but I do respect Duncan, so come back here and let me "be" polite." His tone was softer, but not by much. However it seemed to her that the young man was truly trying to follow Duncan's words, so she turned around and sat back down on the bed.

For a while they lingered in silence looking at one another, Fayne did not know where to start, the first thing she said to him seemed to have angered him. She was immensely happy when Leric decided to start the conversation.

"What is your name?" The simple sentence sounded forced, but at least he was trying.

"My name is Fayne Cousland; you are currently in my Father's estate"

"I am Leric of the Dalish"

So Leric was his name, it seemed somehow fitting for his personality, short, and sharp. She took a breath to ask another question, but Leric beat her to it.

"Where did you get that mark on your face?" Fayne had forgotten the incident with Thomas and she lightly fingered her face. It was still very sore, but she resisted the urge to wince. She prayed it did not look like a hand print, because if it did it would prove she was lying.

"I was outside with my hound, Zoltar, and he pushed me to the ground. I was overly excited and ended up hitting myself in the face with my arm." She smiled as she explained the mark to Leric, hopping he would buy the story.

Crossing his arms Leric looked at her disapprovingly, "Do you think I am stupid, you have a hand print on your face."

She blanched at his words, if the mark was so defined how was she going to explain it to he parents, say that she hit herself? She stood up and walked to the door, maybe if she retired early enough she could sleep away the mark and later it would become an unrecognizable bruise.

"It was pleasant speaking with you Leric, I hope you can get well soon and be on your way." She knew her words sounded harsh, but she had had enough of men treating her like a lesser being and she wanted to reach her room before either of her parents saw her face.

She closed the door to her room quickly and made her way to the spare bedroom set up for her, staying in the shadows. Servants were milling about as they did the chores of the estate and they often fueled the rumor mill of the town. As she walked through the narrow part of the hallway she saw her personal maid, Nina, come bustling through the kitchen door. She can't see me like this, thought Fayne, she will immediately alert father.

With calculated precision Fayne, stepped into the shadows cast by the high window, allowing her body to become invisible to the untrained eye. She had learned to master this technique at a surprisingly young age when she would play hide and seek with Fergus. Her mother had drilled her for hours trying to find out which martial master had taught her daughter this rouge technique, but Fayne had insisted that she learned it by herself, which was true. Nevertheless it sent lady Cousland into an uproar and caused Fayne to be kept away from the training men for years. Only after a heated debate with her father, about five years ago, was she finally allowed to train under a guidance of a knight.

Fayne exhaled the breath she was holding when Nina passed by her without a second glance.

"Very well done, young lady." A rich baritone voice came from behind her and caused Fayne to loose concentration, making her visible again. She turned around slowly and came face to face with the Warden Duncan.

"Hello Duncan, how are you?" ever the polite lady, Fayne gave a small cursy to the man, trying to keep her marked face in the shadow.

"I am well my Lady, I was just passing through and happened to witness your spectacle and thought it best to congratulate you on learning such a hard maneuver" he looked at her with dark eyes that seemed to scrutinize her every movement. Calculating, just like the nobles who wold petition her father for aide.

"Thank you Duncan, though I would keep the complments to a minimum, my father and mother are somewhat displeased about where I place my interests." She laughed and tilted her head back. It was a mistake, she could tell by the frown that suddenly appeared on Duncan's face that he had seen the hand print. He was gracious however and made no remark, only his scowl showed his disapproval.

"I could use someone like you in the wardens you know, I came here looking for a recruit as well as seeking aide for the elf"

"Leric, you mean, the one in my bedroom." Duncans eyes looked a little startled to hear that she knew the man's name.

"Yes.. that elf, anyway do you think your father would be willing to part with you?"

"I highly doubt my parents would want me to become some legendary warrior, more like a legendary wife." She covered her mouth with her hand and looked shocked. "You must forgive my cadence, sir warden, sometimes I forget my manners." what was she thinking, she could not be so abrupt with this man, her mother would kill her if she found out her high bred daughter was talking so scathingly.

His hearty laugh filled the cooridor as he waved his hand, "No need my lady, you were not too out of hand. It is just a shame we could not have a gifted individual as yourself." He turned thoughtful as he looked behind her.

Fayne started to turn to go down to her room, "Well Duncan, I wish I could come with you, but my place is here." She began to walk away and before she rounded the corner she said, "Though a girl can always dream right?" with that she disappeared into the dark hall, her body consumed by the late afternoon shadow.