Be careful what you wish for. Those were Elaine's thoughts as she followed the dark haired man with the scruffy beard. She had been given permission by Irving and Greagoir to join the Grey Wardens, and had left the Tower only one day ago. Now she walked in silence behind Duncan through the rain and mud, the hem of her new robes already brown with filth.

Elaine looked up to the sky and tried to remember what Anders had said. Even when wet, in the rain, remember this is freedom. She peered into the trees above her, trying to catch a glimpse at those rare animals he'd described. But she saw none, and in her distraction felt herself stumble forward, tripping over a tree root. She landed face first in the mud, and after only a few seconds, her Grey Warden companion helped her up.

"Are you hurt?" he asked as she wiped the mud from her eyes.

"Just my pride Duncan," she said, smiling. "Got lost in the sky for a minute. Sorry to slow us down."

"No need to apologize," he said honestly. "I had forgotten, you've never left the Tower and this would be your first experience of real trees, isn't it?"

She nodded, wringing the water and mud out of her pony tail. "Or grass, birds, rain, even this mud," she said, now laughing. "I'm sure as a child I saw these things, but it's such a distant memory compared to this." She looked down at her mud-soaked robes. "I'm a mess, but someday this will be a fun story to tell."

"Indeed," he said. "Perhaps we should rest. We've been moving at a fast pace since yesterday, and with little time for you to soak it all in."

"Only if you insist Duncan," Elaine said. "I know you were concerned about making it back to Ostagar in time."

They stopped for a little while to eat, Elaine absorbing the smells and the feel of the dirt beneath her. She watched as insects went about their day, and she left an offering of bread for them to chew on.

Duncan smiled at her wonderment of nature; it was like watching a child discover the world anew. He allowed himself a moment to appreciate all the things he never realized he took for granted.

He followed them for a while. He wasn't sure why, but he felt the need to make sure she would be okay. The man she was with seemed honorable enough; he had followed them for a day, and the Warden hadn't tried anything suspicious. Anders wanted to run to her when she fell, but he quickly changed his mind. She will be alright, he thought as he heard her laugh at her own clumsiness. When they stopped for a meal, Anders continued to watch for a time. He watched how she broke up her food before she ate, instead of biting into it. He watched how she ran her hands through the grass or splashed them in the mud. That annoying loose strand of hair that refused to stay tucked in her pony tail; he remembered it from their night together. A smile crossed his face as he noticed the red ribbon around her neck, the makeshift necklace she now wore which held his earring.

Yes, she'll be okay. She needed to live her new life as a Warden, and he had to begin his life again on the run. Anders gave her one more glance and then left his hiding spot to begin travelling to the Brecilian Forest.

Elaine wasn't prepared for Ostagar. She'd assumed that she'd show up for the battle, and they'd shove her to the rear of the army to cast spells. Instead, she found herself in a world that didn't trust mages, and in a group with three other men who seemed just as nervous as she was. She was, however, excited to meet the King and hear about his fascination with Wardens. His enthusiasm wasn't shared by everyone, but his welcoming speech made her proud to be joining their ranks.

Elaine figured Duncan was the eldest Warden in camp, although there were a few others that were sequestered from the rest of them, drinking and sharing stories with the King. Her immediate superior, she discovered, would be a man named Alistair, who would be her mentor as she prepared for the Joining ritual. To gather supplies Duncan sent them into the Wilds where Elaine encountered her first darkspawn, her first Mabari, and her first sense of what her life would really be like.

The night of the Joining was forever etched in her memory. She watched as two potential friends died; one from the ritual itself, and the other at the end of Duncan's blade. It was the first time she'd been afraid of the man, as she learned just how serious he carried out his role as a Warden. Elaine couldn't comprehend why Jory had to die; he'd simply changed his mind about joining. Was that not allowed after a certain point in the journey? Who would tell his wife back home? What would they say? Why couldn't they just let him go?

None of it made sense to her.

The smell of the blood nearly made her retch as she lifted the cup to her lips. It did not smell like normal blood, with its metallic overtones. It smelled of dirt, of death, and was darker than any liquid she had ever seen. She poured the warm liquid into the back of her throat to avoid tasting it. The blood was like molten fire as she swallowed hard, forcing it down into her stomach, the heat growing the lower it went.

The images that flashed through her mind were also impossible to forget. Massive hordes of darkspawn marched out of the Deep Roads and up to the surface, led by a huge dragon. She'd read about dragons in books, but it did not prepare her for what she'd seen in her dreams. She would learn later this was the Archdemon, a sight she hoped to never see up close.

From the moment she awoke, Elaine was forever changed. Alistair would become her only family. The battle would begin, many lives would be lost, and the world would never be the same again.

Anders had stumbled on the Dalish unintentionally on his travels through the Brecilian Forest. He had heard rumors during the last few weeks that they may be nearby but he had hoped to avoid them. Luck didn't seem to be on his side, however, when suddenly several elven archers, longbows poised to fire, pointed their arrows at his head.

The camp seemed to be a happy place, which was contrary to the few rumors he had heard about the Dalish. While Anders half expected to be their next meal, Keeper Lanaya greeted him with warmth and acceptance. "I am overwhelmed by your hospitality, Keeper," he said, bowing in the hopes it was considered a respectful gesture. "I had heard the Dalish weren't particularly fond of outsiders."

"Not usually, no," Lanaya admitted. "But lately outsiders have done many helpful things for us."

Anders was invited to join the clan for their evening meal, and Sarel, the clan's storyteller, was thrilled to have a new audience.

"Welcome stranger," he said as he patted the log beside him for Anders to sit. "What brings you here?"

"Oh just passing through," Anders said with a shrug.

"It seems we are fortunate enough to attract several travelers lately that are 'passing through'," Sarel observed in between bites of stew. "But welcome, join us in celebratory feast this evening."

Anders smiled at the man, accepting the plate of food that was handed to him. "What are we celebrating?"

"A cure was recently acquired for several of our sick," Sarel explained. "We celebrate their health, and the great Wardens who made it possible."

Anders perked up. "Wardens? They were here?"

"You know of the Wardens?" Lanaya asked.

"Well, possibly one of them," he admitted, trying to hide his excitement. "They aren't still around are they?"

"No," Sarel replied. "They had to move on, as we will soon, but they have brought new life to this camp again."

Anders dared to ask about Elaine. "Was one of them a woman? Black hair like a raven, ivory skin, with perhaps a necklace made of a red ribbon?"

"Is she your girlfriend?" Namaya, a woman who was seated across from him, asked pleasantly.

Anders laughed. "No, no, nothing like that. Just someone I knew."

Namaya kept at him. "Really? When you described her your expression turned rather... dreamy." She smiled knowingly.

"That's enough Namaya," Lanaya scolded her clan-mate for her rudeness.

Anders blushed but continued on, asking Sarel to tell him the story of what the Wardens had done, and why they had been there in the first place. The storyteller was all too happy to go into detail about the recent trouble with the werewolves, and how the Wardens had found a cure for the curse that had turned them into vicious beasts. Anders couldn't help but smile proudly at the thought of little Elaine making such a difference in the world already.

After some good food and drink were consumed, Anders was offered a tent where he could rest for the night before continuing on his journey. The outspoken woman from earlier, Namaya, snuck into his tent sometime during the night.

"Are you here to pick on me some more?" he joked with her. "You hurt my feelings, you know."

"I'm sure you'll get over it," Namaya said as she made herself comfortable. "I came to ask you something."

"Alright, I'm curious, what do you want to ask me?" He narrowed his eyes at her.

Namaya peeked through the tent's flap to make sure no one was within earshot. "Can I leave with you in the morning?"

Anders gasped in surprise. "Leave the Dalish? Why?"

Namaya shrugged. "Let's just say I have my own reasons."

"I'm not exactly the best traveling companion," Anders admitted. "You should have left with the Wardens."

She shook her head, "I tried. Couldn't. They wouldn't hear of it. Didn't want to 'get involved' in removing an elf away from her clan. But you're obviously already on the run, why not have company?"

Anders smirked at her. "How do you know I'm on the run?"

"I'm Dalish, not stupid. I know an apostate when I see one. So what do you think?"

"Why not?" Anders said with a laugh. He liked her spunk. "Meet me by that big oak tree tomorrow and we'll be on the run together."

Elaine and Alistair had grown close. It seemed inevitable; two people spending so much time alone together. Even in the midst of the other companions they gathered, the bond of the Wardens was something new friends couldn't understand; emotions only shared by the two of them. Their relationship grew stronger each passing day, and they eventually became lovers.

At first she'd thought perhaps she'd fallen in love with him, but as the months went by, Elaine felt herself pulling away from him. They had seen so much death. She had been forced to make several decisions that would forever change the fate of entire cities and races of people. In the Tower, her biggest worry had been which robe should she wear, or what to have for dinner. Now, one spell from her staff killed beasts and men alike.

There was too much anger, too much hatred for herself after what she'd done, and it had built into a raging storm inside of her - one which she needed to release. Alistair had always been careful of her, nurturing her through the worst of it - gentle and kind in a way that was driving her mad. He didn't understand that she didn't need soft caresses, but instead wanted their lovemaking to reflect the frenzy of savage emotion she'd felt for so long. Elaine wanted it rough, she wanted him to tie her up and ride her into the ground. If she didn't release some of this soon, she was afraid she would explode - or lose her mind. Why should she deserve gentle consideration? She was a killer who dealt in violence. Shouldn't some of that be given back to her in turn?

In their travels they picked up many companions, but none as fascinating and life changing as the assassin sent by Loghain and Arl Howe to kill her. Zevran was an elf, an Antivan Crow, and very, very sexual. He immediately began flirting with everyone at camp, and Elaine was soon fascinated with him. He was so open about his sexuality and experience that Elaine was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. The topic came up several times during their nightly watches together, and eventually Elaine felt comfortable enough to tell him what was going on inside her.

"As an assassin," he began, "I completely understand your desire for a more...heated encounter behind closed doors. We live a dangerous life and we grow to enjoy it. It's only natural that we want to bring that passion into the bed with us."

Elaine let out a breath of relief - finally someone understood what she had been trying to express for months. Zevran had prodded into her past encounters, convinced that she must have experienced it to crave it. She confided in him about Anders, the first "dangerous" man she had slept with, and what their brief time together was like.

"Exciting isn't it?" he smiled, knowing that it was. "If you were attracted to the danger to begin with, cuddles and kisses at night would be rather dull, would they not?"

"I feel as if I've waited years for someone to understand me," Elaine said, relief obvious in her voice.

"The problem, my dear, is your fellow Warden. I see how he is; gentle, kind, loving. These are not horrible qualities in a man, but they are not for you. Danger excites you. Mystery turns you on. It's natural to have these desires."

Elaine looked away. "I can't hurt him Zevran. I was his first, his only, he has lost so much that he can not lose me as well."

"Then perhaps we can attempt to harden him up and show him what he's missing."

Anders and Namaya arrived in Denerim exhausted from their travels. They avoided going into the marketplace since Anders knew there would be Templars there, and he knew Namaya couldn't wander through the streets without being thrown into the Alienage. He had been to Denerim a few times during his previous escapes, and was very familiar with which areas of the city were safe for him.

He took Namaya to The Pearl, a brothel within the city. The rooms were free and the company was accepting. Sanga, the proprietor, always welcomed Anders when he returned, and gave him a free place to stay being aware of his life on the run. It was also the only place that he knew Namaya would be safe, as there were several different races that worked at the brothel.

They remained in Denerim for some time. Anders had a few old friends he had to contact to see if the Templars were closing in. Namaya remained, charmed by Anders sweet talking and sense of humor. They spent their nights drinking with travelers and having fun, after which they'd hurry off to bed for some personal attention.

One night, Anders had entirely too much to drink, and decided he'd put on a show for the ladies. He asked Namaya to be his assistant, and as drunk as she was she accepted. Anders had her lay on a table and began shooting low level electric bolts on her body. She giggled in delight, as it was pleasurable and ticklish, and he continued to do it up and down her body from her legs to her chest, stopping in certain sensitive female areas. When he did so, Namaya would start to moan from the excitement of it. The soft jolts aroused her, and soon everyone was volunteering to be his assistant. It was the most fun he'd ever had in public - he was accepted for his magic and showed clearly that it wasn't as evil as the Templars made it out to be.

But, as always, he'd gone too far, and Sanga came to him the following morning warning him that the Templars were looking for him. She also had a note for him from one of his contacts; a rumor of a phylactery shipment that was headed to Amaranthine from the Circle. There was concern that the Circle was no longer a safe place to keep them, given recent internal problems, and the darkspawn's destruction of Lothering, a town not far from Kinloch Hold.

Amaranthine was a long walk from Denerim, so Anders and Namaya set out immediately with the Templars hot on their heels.

One night in Denerim was the turning point of Elaine and Alistair's relationship. Alistair wanted to go into the town to find his sister, and was not greeted with the warm welcome he'd expected from family. Goldanna was cold, and hard, the complete opposite of Alistair, and it confused him. "You both grew up in very different worlds Alistair," Elaine explained. "Some people are just out for themselves."

"I had hoped she'd accept me," he said sadly, realizing that his family truly was lost. "Perhaps I do need to be King; maybe then she'd appreciate me."

Elaine had snapped, having heard enough. Alistair seemed to want to be a doormat for those around him.

"Do you even hear yourself?" she asked, heatedly. "Always trying to do what you think everyone wants of you. What do you want? Have you no desires and goals of your own?"

He was taken aback by her verbal assault, but her words stung of truth. He had always done what was expected, what was needed, and never asked himself what he wanted. He'd spent the rest of the day thinking on it, and he knew she was right. At camp they had a lengthy, long overdue discussion, and Elaine finally was able to make him see things a different way.

"Our first nights together, when we began this journey, you told me you dreamed of making Duncan proud. Rebuilding the Wardens, carrying on the legacy he left to you when he died. How is being King going to do that?"

He remembered that conversation, and cursed himself for forgetting it so easily under the towering influence of Arl Eamon, the man who insisted he become King.

"You don't have to be King, Alistair," she continued when she realized he was really listening this time. "Continue on with the Wardens. Rebuild. Join with the others that'll soon be in Ferelden. It's your calling, it's all you talked about before Eamon threw the throne down your throat. Don't change your dreams because he tells you to, or because you think your sister will respect you more. She only wants your money, and Eamon only wants control of the kingdom through you."

He nodded, accepting her words for truth. But one thing bothered him. "You're right, those are my dreams. But we've never discussed yours. You joined the Wardens as a way out of the Circle, but is it really the future you wanted? What is it that you want?"

Elaine hadn't thought much on a future; she had lived every day just trying to survive. "I can't tell you Alistair. I've honestly never had the time to think about it."

Alistair smiled, a new bravery coming over him. "Surely there must be something. Anything, even if it's small. What have you been yearning for and haven't been able to do?"

Elaine laughed nervously, one thought immediately coming to mind. "Oh that's a dangerous thing to ask Alistair. I'm not sure you want to hear the answer."

But he surprised her, embracing his new attitude as best he could. "Anything you want. If it's possible, for you I will give it my best. You've helped me realize a dream today; I want to do the same for you."

She told him she'd let him know, and they continued on with their tasks in Denerim. She couldn't say if it was fate or chance that brought them to the Pearl that night, but a dream was about to become a reality.

They had met a beautiful pirate named Isabela, someone Zevran was quite familiar with. Introductions were made, and Elaine knew instantly she was going to like this woman. She was as free as Zevran in her sexuality, teasing their trio from the moment they said hello. The way she called Elaine "sweet thing" made Elaine shiver with delight; an unexpected reaction, she admitted to herself. When Isabela suggested they become better acquainted, Elaine couldn't help but flirt back, and suddenly there was an offer.

"Are you suggesting...with her?" Alistair said astonished. "Wow, and here I am, awake and everything."

"Perhaps your friend is feeling left out?" Isabela said. "There is always room for one more, yes?"

Elaine looked at Alistair, trying to guess what he was thinking.

"Are you really sure you want to do this?" he asked.

"Remember earlier?" Elaine tested the waters. "You asked me if there was something I have been wanting to do that I was unable to?"

He nodded. "Threesome with a pirate? I admit I didn't see that one coming."

"And what about you Zev?" Isabela continued. "Shall we? For old times sake?"

Zevran sighed. "Oh Isabela, you and your ridiculous appetites. Perhaps we should leave it up to our friend here."

Elaine was still looking at Alistair, eyes widened from the thought of Zevran joining them. Alistair studied her expression and saw hope there, desperation for approval, and he realized this was perhaps something Elaine had been looking for, had been needing.

He surprised them all, even himself, when he agreed. "Well, I'll say it, I am a weak weak man. I guess I'll have to play along."

Anders and Namaya stuck to the coast as much as possible as they headed north to Amaranthine. While the journey was longer taking the coastal route, Anders was trying to lose the Templars that he knew followed them. They would spend days backtracking inland before traveling back to the coast.

When they came upon a small fishing town, Anders took the opportunity to secure passage to Alamar. Though the island was not known as a great place to live due to the raiders that occupied it, Anders had hoped the Templars wouldn't follow him to such a risky place. Once they arrived on the island, they remained in the woods, relying on Namayas survival skills in the wilderness.

After a few weeks when there was no sign of Templars on the island, Anders decided it might be safe to return to the mainland. Ships rarely frequented the island however, so it took them longer to leave than he would've liked. He thought luck was on his side however when a ship finally did arrive that was headed to a port right outside of Amaranthine. They booked passage and safely arrived near the city.

Unfortunately for Anders though, the Templars were at the docks waiting. His capture was immediate. He'd had nowhere to run, and after a brief stop at Vigil's Keep to replenish their supplies, the Templars would begin the journey back to Lake Calenhad with Anders once again a prisoner.

Elaine found her release that night at the Pearl. Each day afterward she kept focused on doing what needed to be done and nothing more. She knew in her heart Alistair wasn't really okay with what had happened, and that he only did it for her. Proving her point, she thought, that he was still doing things to make others happy instead of pleasing himself. While the evening had been filled with pleasure, some welcomed pain, and a chance to release the built up emotion inside of her, it had been the end of the two of them.

They had discussed it one night when they were alone on watch. Alistair dared to bring it up, knowing what the end result would bring. "You deserve someone better Alistair," Elaine said. "Someone who isn't as damaged."

"Is that how you see yourself?" he asked. "Damaged?"

"Aren't I? You constantly ridicule Zevran that he enjoys killing people, and for his overtly sexual nature. I am not so different from him."

Alistair rolled his eyes. "You are nothing like him."

"Or you just don't want to admit it," she said sadly.

"No," he said. "I guess not." He couldn't find the words to say goodbye to their relationship. She had been everything to him, but he knew he couldn't make her happy. And what surprised him even more was that he was beginning to realize she wouldn't make him happy either. "I love you Elaine. That will never change."

She looked at him. "I love you too, Alistair. Please believe that."

And so it was over. He never brought it up or disrespected her for her decisions, but the change was obvious even to their companions. Alistair began taking charge more, perhaps trying to prove something to himself, and Elaine found herself slipping away in the middle of the night to be with Zevran. Zevran understood her and knew her needs. He was fine with the fact that she didn't want a relationship; she just needed to get her mind off the chaos for a while. The sadness she and Alistair thought would come from their separation never happened. Instead, they began working even better together; Alistair with his mind on his future, and Elaine free from pent up despair and frustration.

The Blight was upon them, pressuring them to conclude gathering their armies and to prepare for the invasion of darkspawn - and possibly the Archdemon. Before the final battle, Elaine was never more proud of Alistair when he stood up to Eamon and declared he would relinquish the throne to Queen Anora. He would remain with the Wardens. The look on Eamons face was priceless. They were able to enter the battle fresh, and more than ready to fight their enemies to the death - and be victorious.

Queen Anora kept her promise to the Wardens and offered them Arl Howe's lands in Amaranthine, including Vigil's Keep, which was to become the new base of operations for the Wardens. After some discussion, Elaine agreed to travel to the Keep and meet the Wardens coming from Orlais. Alistair remained in Denerim for a time to help rebuild the Wardens while their popularity was high from their recent victory. As they moved on, so did their friends, all seeking out their own fate.