As always, many thank to WellspringCD for being such a great beta reader. Thank you also to everyone who has reviewed, favourited and alerted, plus all the lurkers. I hope Fearghal's adventures continue to entertain.

The group headed west once they hit the main highway. Alistair led, with Bane at his side; Morrigan, Leliana and Sten were grouped in the middle and Bennet and Fearghal brought up the rear. Bennet glanced down at Fearghal; his posture was less tense, his anger disappearing back under the surface. They'd engaged a party of darkspawn just outside Lothering, and Bennet had been taken aback at the ferocity with which Fearghal had fought. He'd seen the younger man spar and fight many times but had never seen him so savage.

Bennet had been impressed with Leliana's skill with her bow. The lay sister had been coy about her past but was obviously an accomplished archer; how proficient she was with her blades remained to be seen. The back of Bennet's neck prickled as he regarded the hedge witch; he'd never fought with a mage before and it made him uneasy. At least Sten now had some armour and a huge two-handed axe, scavenged from a particularly large darkspawn that Alistair had pronounced was a hurlock alpha.

Bennet glanced behind them. The dwarven merchant that had been the object of the darkspawn attack followed them warily. The merchant, grateful for their timely rescue, had offered them a reward. Fearghal had been disappointed that the dwarf had only two tents; Sten had got one and Morrigan had seized the other one with glee. Fearghal had also spotted a fine razor; Bennet shook his head ruefully. Typical nobility!

"Have you decided where we're heading?" asked Bennet.

"I'd thought to visit the Circle Tower," Fearghal replied. "There was talk in Lothering of some trouble there."

"I've never been that far west before," mused Bennet.

Fearghal frowned. The kernel of an idea had been stewing in his mind all day, but he'd been avoiding it. "I've been thinking... maybe you should go back to Highever."

"Eh?" Bennet stopped, blinking at Fearghal.

Fearghal stopped also and faced the big man. "I want you to go home. I want you to organise some resistance to Howe. It will be risky, but you will know who you can trust and who you can't. Anything you can do to undermine Howe will be useful."

Bennet looked thoughtful. "I'm sure there will be lots of things I can do to make Howe's administration more difficult," he said, a slow grin spreading across his face."

Fearghal grinned in reply. The two men started following the group but hung back slightly so that they wouldn't be overheard. Fearghal had lots of ideas about ways life in Highever could be disrupted for the invaders. "I don't want you, or any else, taking unnecessary risks though," he warned.

Bennet nodded. "I'll be careful," he promised. "You know, I'd travel faster on the highway. Why don't I stick with you as far as the Mage's Tower, then head east along the North Road?"

Fearghal considered this for a moment, then nodded.

"I wish there was some way you could get word to me; just so I could know what's going on up there."

Bennet was silent as they walked, gradually catching up with the others. "I have a cousin in Denerim. Maybe I could send him a message now and again," he said eventually.

Fearghal looked surprised. "I didn't know you had family in Denerim."

Bennet looked embarrassed. "We don't talk about him much. He's er... not quite on the right side of the law, if you know what I mean." He saw Fearghal's eyebrows go up and hurried to reassure him. "I can trust him. He won't turn you in or anything."

Fearghal nodded. "If you say he's trustworthy, then I believe you. How do I find him?"

"His name's Couldry, Jake Couldry, but everyone calls him 'Slim'. You can usually find him hanging around the Market Place in Denerim."

"Slim Couldry... I suppose..."

"Yeah, he's a big fat bastard!" said Bennet, grinning.

Alistair looked back over his shoulder at Fearghal's shout of laughter. Fearghal was walking at the rear, with Bennet, and looked relaxed and happy. Alistair felt his insides lurch as he looked at Fearghal smiling. This was the man who'd sat at Duncan's fire, playing with his hound, after expedition into the Wilds. Not for the first time, Alistair found himself hoping that Bennet would stay with them. The big man was affable and easy to like. Better still, not only was he obviously not intimidated by the volatile Fearghal, but Fearghal seemed to hold Bennet in high regard, which was a minor miracle because, as far as Alistair could tell, Fearghal hated everyone. Or at least, didn't appear to like them much.

He definitely hates me... and this morning didn't help. Alistair felt the heat flare in his face as he thought back to his rude awakening in the tent he'd shared with Fearghal. Alistair was grateful when Leliana came forward and started to chat with him about Chantry life. She was a little odd, but not overly pious, which was a relief. She did tend to prattle on a bit, but it was a welcome distraction from his own disturbing thoughts.

~o~O~o~

They walked until it was almost dark, then left the road and found somewhere suitable to camp. Sten was sent to gather wood for a fire while Alistair, Fearghal and Bennet set up the tents. Leliana disappeared with her bow and reappeared a short time later with several rabbits, and once Sten had gathered enough firewood, she and Morrigan set about preparing a meal.

Eventually the camp was set up and food cooked. Everyone sat around, eating in silence until Alistair asked Fearghal, hesitantly, "Have you had any thoughts about where we should head first?"

"I was thinking we should head to the Tower first," replied Fearghal, tucking in to another roast rabbit. "There was some talking Lothering of trouble up there, it might do to go and take a look."

"I ran into one of Arl Eamon's knights in Lothering. He said the Arl is very sick. I also think he's our best bet for help. Maybe we should head to Redcliffe first?" suggested Alistair.

Fearghal considered it while he picked clean the rabbit he was eating. He tossed the bones to Bane, then shrugged. "I don't see the rush. It's not like we have a healer with us. The Arl will either get better, or he won't." He glanced over at Alistair, who was glaring at him now. "Anyway, why are you leaving it up to me?"

Alistair shrugged, his anger at Fearghal's callousness dying as quickly as it had flared. "I don't even know where to start," he admitted. "I'll do whatever you decide."

Morrigan snorted. Fearghal turned to her. "You have something to say, Morrigan?"

"Go after your enemy directly. Find this man, Loghain and kill him. The rest of this business with the treaties can then be done in safety."

"He certainly wouldn't see that coming," scoffed Alistair. "And it's not like he had the advantage of armies and experience and..."

"I was asked for my opinion and I gave it," replied Morrigan haughtily, glaring at Alistair. "If your wish is to come up with reasons why something cannot be done, we will stand here until the darkspawn are upon us."

"That's a bit harsh, Miss," put in Bennet. "Alistair's right. Loghain's a wily old fox and he's not going to be easy to get to."

"So, the Tower first then," said Fearghal decisively.

Fearghal stood and stretched. "We should set a watch." He looked at Alistair. "You and Bennet, take first watch; Leliana and Sten on second watch; I'll take the third watch with Morrigan."

Leliana started to protest, she didn't trust the big Qunari one bit.

Fearghal glared at her. "If you don't like it, Lothering's back that way," he told her coldly. Leliana flushed, but didn't argue.

"We don't need to keep watch. I can set wards around the camp," insisted Morrigan.

"I'd rather be safe than sorry. Set them anyway; we're very exposed out here."

Morrigan nodded and busied herself, setting the wards.

~o~O~o~

Alistair and Bennet took another turn around the small perimeter of the camp then stood near the fire for a bit to warm up again.

Alistair heard Bennet take a deep breath, then say, "Don't take this the wrong way, lad, but you shouldn't let him get his own way all the time."

Alistair shrugged. "I didn't like how he put it, but I couldn't argue with his logic."

"He's used to ordering men around, it doesn't mean he's always right though. Just saying, is all."

Alistair smiled ruefully. "Whereas I have always been told what to do."

"Doesn't mean you don't have an opinion, or that you won't think of things that he misses. Don't be afraid to speak your mind. A leader needs a good second, one who'll put him straight."

Alistair brightened. A second. He liked the sound of that; he was used to being at the very bottom of the pecking order.

"A word of advice, from one who knows him. He's stubborn as a mule." Bennet chuckled softly. "The best way to get him to do something is to tell him he can't. You'll have to be a bit... canny with him."

Alistair groaned, thinking back to Lothering. "Sten."

"Aye, Sten."

"Thanks for the advice. I'll bear it in mind." He grinned at Bennet. "I'm glad you're with us. He seems less... " he stopped, trying to find the right words.

"I'm heading back to Highever once you get to the Tower, lad," Bennet told him, regretfully.

"What?" yelped Alistair in dismay. Looking round guiltily and lowering his voice, he asked,"Why?"

Bennet nodded at Fearghal's tent. "There's some things I need to do up there, for Fearghal." Seeing questions in Alistair's face, he forestalled him. "It's probably best you don't know too much." He clapped his hand on Alistair's back. "Come on, we ought to have another turn about. It'll be time to wake Leliana and Sten soon."

~o~O~o~

Alistair removed most of his armour outside the tent, then crawled inside clad in just shirt and breeches. Fearghal stirred restlessly as Alistair settled himself on his bedroll and wrapped himself in a blanket, but didn't wake. Alistair laid on his back, trying to clear his mind so he could sleep. At his side, Fearghal stirred again, whimpering softly. Suddenly, Fearghal sat up with a yell, trying frantically to scoot backwards.

"Darkspawn dream?" asked Alistair, not unsympathetically.

Fearghal relaxed as he realised where he was. He rubbed his hand over his face, groaning, "It seemed so real."

Alistair turned on to his side and propped himself up on his elbow, resting his head on his hand. "Well, it is real."

"What is that thing?" asked Fearghal as he settled himself down again. "Is it really a dragon?"

"The dragon? That's the Archdemon. It... talks to the horde, and we feel it just as they do. That's why we know this is really a Blight. It takes a bit, but eventually you can block the dreams out."

Fearghal just grunted at this information.

"I found them terrifying at first," confessed Alistair.

"I'm not frightened," snapped Fearghal.

"No? That's not why you were trying to get out of the back of tent?" scoffed Alistair. He grinned in the dark. "I screamed like a girl. Duncan said he thought I had someone in my room."

Fearghal snorted. "That seems unlikely," he retorted.

Alistair flushed in the dark at the jibe. He wasn't sure exactly what Fearghal found unlikely, but didn't want him to clarify his statement; Alistair was sure that he wouldn't like the answer. He tried to relax, just wanting to sleep. He'd just been joking, trying to make Fearghal realise that all Wardens had the same dreams and that they all found them troubling; it was nothing to be defensive about.

Fearghal's comment aroused the familiar confusion in Alistair. He had been on the receiving end on some light-hearted teasing when he joined the Grey Wardens. It was common knowledge that he'd been conscripted from the Chantry and widely assumed that he was a virgin. There had even been a well-intentioned offer to take him to a brothel in Denerim to rectify that state of affairs. Alistair had been almost panic-stricken; the thought of losing his virginity was terrifying enough, as inexperienced as he was. The idea of trying to undertake such a thing with someone he had no desire for brought him out in a cold sweat. In the darkest recess of his mind, Alistair admitted to himself he only occasionally felt attracted to a woman but as all his comrades seemed to assume it would be a woman he wanted, he'd not felt able to discuss his feelings with any of them. He was baffled at how indiscriminate some of his comrades seemed with regards to women; he found the thought of trying to have sex with a woman more terrifying than arousing.

Fearghal was the first person that Alistair had met who didn't make that assumption. Alistair almost groaned aloud as he remembered the crude analogy he'd used, quite unconsciously. Fearghal had picked up on it straight away and freely admitted his own preferences. Alistair had been quite shocked; men liking other men was something that was whispered about, frowned upon as deviant by the Chantry. He remembered overheard conversations amongst the other boys, the crude words, the scorn; his own shame about his feelings for Cullen. For a brief, mad moment Alistair considered trying to talk to Fearghal about it then dismissed the idea; he could only imagine Fearghal's mockery. Alistair shuffled restlessly for a long time before sleep claimed him.