A nasty bump in the road caused Aisha to wake up. They were in the back of a carriage, carrying them to the town of Minsop, a little town near the border, which was inhabited by mainly emigrated Rivians. Isabela had said that they would stay there for the night and then continuing to Ostwich where Castillion currently took up his residence. Aisha was looking forward to visiting Minsop, being around other Rivians, buying some fruits from Rivian, perhaps even some mangos.

Isabela groaned and stretched her aching arms. Sleeping in a carriage was not comfortable, even worse than the hard beds of the Hanged Man. She was tired and worried, but happy that the relic was finally safely tucked into her bag. She looked over at Aisha who was sitting next to her. She had made the mage pull her hood down so that it was almost covering her eyes; anything to hide the mark of tranquility. Isabela was happy and relieved that her friend had chosen to come with her. She didn't want to leave Aisha again, not after having done so the first time and practically causing her tranquility.

Isabela fleetingly thought about Hawke and the rest she had left behind. They had been her friends. They were her friends. But she had left them. She had to leave them, to get Castillion off her back finally, so that she and Aisha could be free. Isabela shook any feelings of guilt from herself; she had had no choice. She wasn't a do-gooder like Hawke, she was not obsessesed with justice for people like Aveline or Anders. Isabela's only cause was Isabela; with Aisha as a close second. Isabela was a pirate, a selfish, thieving and whoring snake; she could never let herself forget this.

The women hadn't talked since taking the relic and running. They had run to the Hanged Man and grabbed some things and then they had gone to high town grabbing the first carriage that was leaving the city. It was a carriage that was also carrying various types of smoked fish to Orlais, it had several stops on the way, including Minsop where the women were planning to get of before heading to Ostwick.

It was a two day journey though and quite soon the carriage pulled to a halt. Aisha and Isabela went out, stretching their stiff legs and looking around. It was a farming village, calm and peaceful with children playing in one end and merchants discussing with customers in the other. It was a stark contrast to the brawl and just general craziness of Kirkwall.

"We're leaving again at dawn," the driver announced to his impromptu passengers. He hadn't intended to take on any but when the taller women had offered him three sovereigns to take them to Minsop he had agreed, "I'm sure they have some free rooms at the inn."

"What do you want to do now?" Isabela asked, "we could walk around, take in how calm things are now that we are no longer in Berserkwall, maybe find something to eat or just…" a smirk appeared on the pirate's face, "follow the nice man's advice and find a bed."

"I don't know," Aisha, said, "walk around for a bit would be nice. My legs are hurting from being still."

"I know what you mean," the pirate said, and the women walked around the village. It was a regular, slightly boring village; soon Isabela was sighing.

"I'm bored of this," she said, "we should do something fun."

"This was your idea," Aisha snapped at her, "you stole from the qunari. You're the pirate. You're the one who stabbed Hawke and Merrill and Aveline and Varric in the back and just left them, knowing that they will have to deal with the qunari when you could have just fixed it. And now you complain about being bored. Sometimes I don't believe you."

Isabela replied by sighing and rolling her eyes. She didn't need the guilt trip, not from Aisha. She felt enough guilt on her own.

"They should blame themselves," Isabela said, "they shouldn't have trusted me in the first place."

"Do you hear yourself?" Aisha snapped, "how can you be so selfish?"

Isabela had no answer. Life had made her this way. She felt angry that Aisha dared to question her when she had gone out of her way to cure Aisha of tranquility. But she couldn't be mad, she was tired. She wanted it to be over so she could once more be free; free to purge herself of the, for her, unnatural feelings of guilt.

"If you feel that way," Isabela said in a calm voice, "I am confused why you decided to come with me."

Aisha turned quiet. She refused to tell Isabela that she came with her because she couldn't bear the thought of Isabela leaving again. As infuriating as the pirate could be Aisha loved her. She would not tell that to Isabela though; at best it would just amuse her, at worst scare her away.

"It doesn't matter why I came," Aisha said, calming as well. She was not in the mood for arguing with her pirate. She was still carrying the weight and worry from Hawke's mom's death. It didn't matter what anyone said. Aisha still couldn't shake the feeling that maybe mages were dangerous; maybe they did deserve the circle or even tranquility.

Isabela could see that Aisha's mind had wandered somewhere else, somewhere darker, but didn't know what to do about it. She smiled somewhat sheepishly at the mage.

"Let's not argue sweetness, life is way too short," she said, "why don't you find us somewhere to sleep and I…" she grew silent.

"You're going to talk with a man about a dog?" Aisha said. Her voice was teasing but her smile and eyes were tired.

"Hey," Isabela said, laughing, "I never said I was good at making excuses. Seriously though, I need entertainment. You'll be okay, won't you?"

Aisha rolled her eyes and tried to ignore the jealousy that fled to the pit of her stomach.

"Go," she said and made a dismissive movement with her arm, "I'll see you later or tomorrow. Just don't get so entertained that you miss our ride out of here."

Isabela threw her a relieved look and then left. Aisha watched her leave and then wondered what she was going to do. She didn't feel like finding a room at the tavern and turning in for the night. Instead she kept walking around, looking at people and trying to distract herself from thinking about whatever Isabela was doing right now.

She found herself walking out of town, into the nearby forest. She sat down on a rock and started crying. She was sad. Sad that Hawke's mom had died, sad that her own mom had died so many years ago. Sad that her father had been a bad man. Sad that she had spent years as a tranquil. Sad that she was a dangerous mage. Sad that maybe it would have been better for everyone else if she would have stayed tranquil. Sad that she was in love with an unattainable and selfish person. Sad that she had no control over her own life.

She felt her sadness turn into anger and frustration and with a yell she lunged her arm forward. A spike of electricity flew from the tip of her fingers and hit a nearby tree and split it in two. A sudden voice made her look up.

"Well, well, what have we here?"

It was a woman, dressed in a dress that was slightly too fancy for the simple farming village and with a child at her side. Her hair was as dark as Aisha's but her skin was pale and her eyes were a shade of yellow that Aisha had never encountered outside Rivian.

Aisha panicked at the thought of somebody noticing that she was a mage and quickly hid her hands behind her back.

"There was thunder," she said in a shrill voice, "the lighting came out of nowhere and startled me."

To her annoyance the woman chuckled.

"Really?" She said, " 'tis strange that thunder should come out when the sky is so clear."

"I…" Aisha started but stopped; she didn't know what to say.

"Relax," the woman said, "I'm not going to turn in a fellow mage. But it would be interesting to hear why a young apostate such as yourself is alone in the forest. It's hardly safe," she threw a look at the tree that was split in two, "or perhaps that's nothing you need to worry about."

"Maybe it would be good if I died," Aisha whispered, she hadn't really thought about the danger of wandering into the woods on her own. She was used to having Isabela or Hawke near. In their merry band of misfits there was always somebody close. They always had each other's backs. Until now. Rage hit Aisha again. Stupid, selfish Isabela. How could she just betray everyone like that?

"Perhaps it would," the other woman said, "and perhaps you will. Sitting here alone might do that to you. How do you know I won't hurt you myself."

"Because you have a child with you," Aisha replied.

The woman threw her head back and laughed.

"That never stopped my mother from hurting anyone."

But the child tugged worriedly at her mother's skirt.

"What is it Morgana?"

The girl didn't say anything; she just tugged again and looked at her mother intently. Then she turned to look at Aisha, the child looked like a small replica of her mother even though her eyes were more regular and blue. Must be from the child's father, Aisha though.

"My child is so squeamish," the woman said, " 'tis really a bother." Her words were harsh but her tone loving and the child actually smiled, "she doesn't talk much either."

"Are you an apostate?" Aisha suddenly asked. The other woman looked annoyed.

"No I am not. I do not bow to the circle or the chantry or the templars and I do not assume the titles they give me. Neither should you, Riviani."

"But…" Aisha started, desperate for some advice from an older mage, "don't you agree that we are dangerous? My friend's mother was killed by one, the abominations and… and… maybe we all deserve to die."

Aisha stood up in frustration and the lowest part of her hood was caught on the ground causing it to fall of her head and reveal the mark on her forehead. The other woman's eyes were on it immediately.

"My, my," she said and smirked, "now I am intrigued. You used to be tranquil. 'Tis very few who has escape such fate."

"I know," Aisha said in a dark voice, " I guess I'm lucky."

"You don't seem to think so," the woman said, "well, we must be going. We're on our way to Orlais and it takes a long time when walking the entire way." She stretched her arms a little and her daughter mimicked her movements. Aisha found herself wondering how long the mother and daughter had been walking.

"Mages are people too," the woman said before retreating back into the forest, "how many people haven't been killed by a sword or bow. Abominations are not the worst monsters that walk in this world." Then she started walking slowly into the forest. Her daughter stood still for a moment, looking at Aisha with curiosity in her eyes. She went forward and reached out with a little hand to touch Aisha's cheek. Aisha was so short it was no problem for the girl.

"Remember," the girl said in a strangely adult voice, "revel in your abilities instead of fear them. Your ability is a gift. You are a gift. There is nothing as important as this." Then the girl smiled a shy smile and ran after her mother.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.