Never got much writing done the day but this is a long chapter so only posting one this week.

After saying goodbye to the Dalish camp, and agreeing to deliver various things to the Dalish Warden that had left them, the Keeper gave Aeden a small necklace.

"The hunter will lead you back to the road, but if you ever find your path crossed with another Dalish, this will let them know that you are a friend of the Sabrae clan."

The necklace was a beautifully carved halla head from a strange wood that Aeden had never seen before; various Elvish markings could be seen by tilting it against the light.

He sat now, in his small makeshift camp, using the light from the fire to see the different markings, he laughed as Fangs feet moved rapidly in his sleep as he dreamed of chasing something. It had been three day since the Dalish hunters had help him find the way back to the imperial highway, stopping just short of the edge of the forest. Aeden felt a sickly dread fill up in his stomach and he realised how close he was to reaching Redcliffe, how close he was to telling someone, for the first time, what had happened in his family home.

He swallowed down the bile that burn its way in to his throat, as he pushed he thoughts back. "Concentrate on the task at hand."

His dreams where not pleasant that night; He rose the next morning before the sun, forcing himself to eat, though the food tasted like paper in his mouth. He walked with his hound without stopping as the sun woke and began its slow climb in to the sky.

Fang, for the most part, stayed beside him, every once and a while running ahead to follow a smell or a sound, Aeden smiled at the Mabari's excitement at the new surrounds. The smile soon fell, as the hound suddenly stopped in its tracks. Whining and growling as its attention was drawn by something beyond his senses.

"What is it fang?" he whispered. The only answer was a deep whine before a low and threatening growl shook through the animal. "Lead" Aeden instructed as he armed himself, they both took off at a run. As they got closer the sounds of shouts and clashes of steel reached Aeden ears, he quickly took stock of the fighters before having a double take, there among the fray was Ruari, hacking and slash threw his opponents.

Aeden was about to call out to him when he noticed a man about to stab him when his back was turned, only to be silenced as an arrow appeared protruding from his chest. Looking up he noticed an Elven woman standing on a ledge shooting anyone that slipped past his friend's defences.

He saw as the woman was knocked down by a charging armoured man, he quickly ran to help. By the time he reached the top the first attacker lay underneath the brutal attack of a large grey wolf, while a second attacker had took the chance to grab the Elf by the hair pulling her down to the ground raising his sword.

Aeden reached the Elf just in time to stop the surely fatal blow. Using the man's surprise, Aeden pulled his sword up, making him stumble; he managed to gain his balance enough to avoid Aeden's next swing before charging at him.

Aeden blocked his quick slashes before turning his strength against him by dodging his next one altogether by spinning out of the way, quickly cutting him from his collar bone to his hip as he turned to attack again.

"Are you alright?" Aeden questioned as he held his hand out to the Elf. He felt a sharp tug as the elf pulled him down, along with the whistle as an arrow cut through the air where his head had been.

"Fighting now, question later!" the elf shouted as she fired three arrows from her hand in quick succession. Aeden watched the archer fall, before joining back in to the fray.

He wasn't sure if it was the lack of sleep or the adrenalin, but a flash of red hair flashed in his peripheral caused him to freeze, a second look told him it was real. Stood in that ridiculously heavy armour, sword swinging and shield knocking back an errant rogue to the ground.

"Ruari!" Aeden yelled over the dying sounds of battle. He saw his friends eyes looked up and widen in shock. Forgetting the fight Aeden ran at his friend, tears in his eyes as he began to laugh hysterically. He had only taken two steps when he felt a clod blast knock him back.

"Well how was I supposed to know that?!" a voice Aeden couldn't place exclaimed. "We're in the middle of a fight and some man charges at you with a sword in his hand? What do you want me to do? Just assume you know him and wait to see if he actually tries to stick you with his sword?"

A snort of laughter followed along with the last comment. "Beside his fine, he wake up in a minute, he'll be a bit cold, but he'll be fineeee."

It was only when the voice said this that Aeden realised he was cold, a sudden chill ran through his entire body, cutting straight down to his bones. Shivers began to rock his body as he opened his eye.

"Aeden?" a familiar mop of red hair came in to view.

"Ruari?" he smiled, though it probably looked more like a grimace while his body continued to shake.

"Maker Aeden!" Ruari eyes began to fill as he smiled back. "We thought you were dead" Ruari pulled him up from his prone state on the ground as he was pulled in to hug. Maker how long had it been since he was hugged? Overcome with the events of the last few weeks he clung on to his friend as he felt silent tears on his cheek.

It was Aeden! yay! we've finally got more of our heroes joining up! I've already written the dwarves origin so expect see them soon :P and Zevran was in this chapter, let me know if you spotted him