Hello everyone and welcome back! Big thank you to those who reviewed...

whenxkilledo27

saqqara08

ManyGamePlayer

writingNOOB

Things have been looking up and I'm slowly getting back into typing. Thank you all for the favorites and the follows, you guys are amazing.

Anyways, we're moving on and we'll have some 'romance' kind of with Cullen and Aleera along with some female bonding time.

Enjoy!

~oOo~

Sleeping in a bed not familiar to my own was hard getting used to. I would never get much sleep in the hut Jacob and I share so during the day I yawn none stop before falling asleep in the tavern with my face almost in my food. Each morning since Jacob has been away I would wake up early to go for a jog from one end of the lake to the other before changing my clothes for the day; heading over to the tavern for something to eat. Normally I would eat with Josephine or Leliana but today is...different.

Today, Cullen is sitting in the corner trying to avoid everyone while reading over some papers.

"Do you always have your nose in those papers or do you actually look up to breathe?" I asked, standing besides him with a bowl of porridge in my hands. He looked shocked that I was standing there, mouth full of food as well since he swallowed what he had hard; coughing slightly to clear his throat.

"I do but most of my time is spent training the recruits or looking over paper work. There's a lot of responsibility on my shoulders as being Commander." He said.

"Would you mind if I sit with you? If not, I can sit somewhere else." I told him and when he didn't answer I took that as one but he stood abruptly just as I was about to turn. We stared at each other for a minute before he cleared his throat, gesturing me to sit down as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Please, sit. It will give me a reason to take a break. We haven't talked much since you arrived." He said as I sat down.

"That's alright. Jacob thought it would be better for me to stay behind when they left for Val Royeaux to learn a little bit more about protecting myself and menially preparing myself for a fight." I sighed. "I'm not such a great fighter. I throw up every time I do which really don't help me."

"He did say that the last time he sealed a rift a horror demon managed to get hold of you to paralyze you. He said you were screaming like you were in a nightmare." Cullen said and I dropped my eyes from him to my porridge.

"That's because I was in a nightmare. I won't bore you with the story but it's not been easy for me, being what I am. All my life I've felt different or off because of what I can do. It even scared my parents when it started to act up. They were the only ones besides two of my friends who actually accepted me." I looked up at his shocked face. "Things are different here. I feel like I do a lot more good but adjusting is a little bit hard."

"That's good to hear." Cullen chuckled and yet I could see it in his eyes that he wanted to question me about the story but he didn't push the topic. "We can use all the help we can get." He smiled and I felt my stomach do a flip. "And I also heard that Cassandra wants someone to train you to defend yourself?" And there goes the butterfly feeling.

"Ugh...yeah. Which is one of the reasons why I stayed behind. I'm not much of a fighter and I really don't want to be." I told him.

"In this situation you kind of have to."

"But whose willing enough to train me?! I might take them forever to get me ready!" I said and he chuckled. "What?"

"Cassandra already spoke to me before she left and told me that it might be a good idea if I were to train you." He said with a smirk. My jaw dropped and Cullen actually started to laugh at me! Laugh! At me! "She said that we try a few weapons first and see which ones suit you best. Of course, we'll start tomorrow once the shock has settled in." I narrowed my eyes and Cullen had to suppress a chuckle.

"Shock my ass! We can start right after our breakfast." I said to him.

"You will start as soon as you finish helping me actually." I screamed bloody murder, falling out of seat when Leliana appeared out of nowhere to stand right beside us. Cullen didn't seemed phased about it either!

"Help...with what exactly?" I asked from where I was on the floor.

"Just a few errands, nothing that you can't handle. I will send you to Cullen as soon as we're done. Come find me when you're done with breakfast." Leliana said with a smile and left. Cullen wouldn't stop chuckling as I got to my feet to sit back down on the chair.

"Stop laughing blondie." I said and Cullen stopped.

"Varric calls me that."

"I know. I'm gonna be calling you that till I can find a better nickname for you." I said and finished up the last of the porridge before I stood up.

"Leaving already?" Cullen asked. I smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Gonna miss me already?" I asked him and the way Cullen blushed created a flutter in my stomach. "Just kidding! I'll come find you when I'm done Cullen." I said and left before he could say anything.

Ugh...feelings...they really need to stop.

I found the Spy Master in her tent looking over some paperwork. She's so different than the first Leliana in Origins and in number two, she...was seen much but when she was she wasn't the peppy optimistic Leliana. And now...I think the old Leliana had died and would never return. It really is sad.

"Ah, Aleera, please sit down." Leliana smiled but I could tell it was a fake. I could spot a fake one a mile away if I wanted to. Lies are so easy to find if you look hard enough. "Now that we have some time to talk, I would like to ask you a few questions. Something still troubles me." She said as I sat down.

"Alright but I need you to do something for me if it's not too much to ask." I asked her.

"What?"

"Don't smile unless you really want to. I've seen fake smiles all my life, I prefer if you didn't have to lie to me." She smiled for real this time and the air seemed calmer, more...real? Like she was not really letting down her guard but it was a start that she trusted me with a real smile.

"Of course it's just that...I wish to know how well your knowledge expands and how much you know about past events."

"In order for that, I just need to ask a few questions first. So I can see if your time line, matches up with what I know about."

"Sounds fair, ask away."

"Was the warden a woman or man?"

"Woman."

"Mage or noble?"

"Noble."

"Name?"

"Amelia Cousland."

I froze. No...no it can't be...there no frickin way it could be possible...then again I am in a video game.

"Amelia Rune Cousland, daughter to Bryce and Eleanor Cousland of Highever. Her brother is named Fergus, whose wife and son died when Arl Howe sacked their home for vengeance who later died by her hands in Denerim when the warden went to save the queen. She has a soft and kind heart, kind of bubbly personality. She has this 'fairy' scar on her forehead where her brother accidentally shot her with a rock when they were little. Over the year of gaining people for their treaties, she did the dark ritual with Morrigan that would conceive a child so that Amelia and Alistair could marry after they slay the Archdemon. They later became king and queen." I explained with wide eyes and a little too fast I thought that Leliana might not have heard me right but when she froze I knew she heard me.

"How...how did you know that?"

"Because I know this woman very well. Well, from what I know of her my my world because this is gonna sound really really weird but it's true."

"Explain."

"In my world, this world is a game and I know almost everything about what has happened from the begging of the blight to the very end. I have another question." Okay then...what's behind door number two?

"Yes?"

"What's Hawks first name?"

"Diana, where is this going?" She asked.

"Okay, I know everything, well almost, from the beginning of the blight to the every end where Hawk is viscount in Kirkwall before leaving with her lover Fenris." I said and slumped in my chair while the red haired woman just looked at me with wide eyes. "Yeah, creepy I know but it's the truth. Where I am from, this is a game and in that game you create a character in the beginning."

"And you...created Amelia and Diana?" Leliana asked.

"I created Amelia. My friend Amanda created Diana. There are three games in total with a bunch of books backing it but up until the end of the second game, the one about Hawk, is as far as I got. I don't know what's happened in the past few years since Kirkwall fell to the mage uprising because Anders blew up the chantry."

She was quiet and I felt like I had just signed my death warrant...

Leliana was quiet for a moment before she sighed then giving me a smile. Okay...creepy once again but at least it's not a fake smile! Then she asked if I know what's going to happen now and I said no. Only Eric knew or even played the newest game so all of this is something new to me. We talked more about the game and everything I know about so she was up to speed on my knowledge. I understand she wants to know what I know since my world basically created the game. Once that was done and over with we talked normally.

She asked me questions about me, seeing how I was doing with everything, and she asked questions about my power. I told her once I had lost control but that was because I was very young. She asked how it happened...and I told her a lie. She knew it was a lie but didn't say anything.

"I think that is all for now. But before you go..."

"Yes?"

"Try a bow. A bow is more your style since getting up and close bothers you." She smiled at me and I said thanks before running to find Cullen.

~oOo~

Archery is amazing!

You shoot people far away, not get close to anyone, and I can shoot fire at them almost at the same time too! It's amazing! The only problem is that my arms are so weak that pulling the string taunt is hard. Not to mention that my fingers started to bleed from the string rubbing against my fingers.

Cullen who was helping me said that I was picking up the bow pretty nicely but I still needed more work and practice before I could move on to moving targets. Basics first then everything else. It's like learning my powers all over again! Ugh..it's so boring! Like when you start a new game you have to go through the baby levels before you can go out into the world. Like Skyrim!

Did I really just make a reference to that game?

Ugh...

"Go and get some rest. We'll pick up more practice tomorrow." Cullen said and I collapsed on the snow below my feet. My arms felt so heavy and tired. Cullen chuckled at me and I managed to lift an arm to point a finger at him.

"Hush you. No laughing at the new girl." His smile was something really good to see but I shook it off when he reached down to help me up.

"Come on then. Before the cold settles inside your bones." I took his hand and he helped me to my feet. "Your arms will get stronger the more you work them. And those cuts will leave scars no doubt."

"No worries. I'm used to having scars by more. Being what I am is kind of a hazard. Thanks for the lesson Cullen. I'll catch you later!" I said to him, giving him a smile before he could say anything else.

I forget about them sometimes. The scars. I try not to forget about them or think about them but you do. People might see them and ask so your forced to remember but other times you notice them yourself. Some go away while others stay with you forever.

We have to live with them.

Our scars.

They're part of us; they make up our stories what will tell other of how our life went about.

I'm not ashamed of them but showing them to people...is still a little tender.

But, they are me.

I wouldn't change them for the world.

~oOo~

A/N: Not really proud of this chapter but I hope you all like it! Please, if you having already, go on my profile and vote because new arrivals are coming shortly! Two more chapters after this and we'll be seeing some familiar faces! Hope you enjoyed the read!