I would like to give a special thanks to zeeji for her words of concern and encouragement. I would also like to offer my gratitude to Jen4306 for her thoughts as well. You are both greatly appreciated as are all the other readers out there.

I need to apologize to Jen4306. I was hoping to get to Chandra's and Alistair's intimate scene done in his chapter, but ran out of time. Sorry. It will be in the next chapter, then on with the big breakup and then some Nate! Best wishes to you all, Galesong

Chapter 9

Just Up the Mountain

"Wait! We can't leave without the medallion," Brother Genitivi hollered, "Eirik, the priest, wears it around his neck."

"This medallion?" the nuisance of an elf offered up the intricate pendant to Genitivi.

"Yes, that is your key to opening the temple," Genitivi hobbled out of the chantry on his make shift crutch and pointed, "It's just up the mountain."

"We had better hurry," Chandra piped in, "It's fast becoming dark and I would rather not have anymore run-ins with the townsfolk, if you get my meaning?"

The surly elf picked up the trail and raced ahead, "Yes, I happen to like your legs just the way they are, wrapped around my…"

"Super!" I cut in, "Excuse me while I begin projectile vomiting." Chandra, who had been helping Gentivi, took a moment to look over her shoulder. Chandra's expressive eyes narrowed until she found mine, "Is it me or is it getting colder?" I folded my arms and rubbed my shoulders brusquely.

"So you have already stated," Sten replied.

I fell into step with Sten as we brought up the rear, "You know, I think you're right."

We traveled several miles up the winding path that lead to the Andraste's resting place. It was difficult to know how long as the sky was forever grey. The snow had melted into heavy drops of rain. This indicated that it was warming up, but the dampness of the rain caused even Sten to hug himself for warmth. The bothersome elf, I was happy to note, had lost some of his zeal as his blond head hung low with the pouring rain. It was Chandra that worried me the most. She had Genitivi's arm slung over her shoulder and was now supporting the full extent of his weight. Once or twice she had lost her footing but at the last moment had managed to save herself from falling, thus saving Genitivi.

I couldn't help but admire Chandra's inane stubbornness while being infuriated at the same time. I jogged ahead to where Chandra was struggling to get Gentivi over some fallen trees. I lifted my shield over them to block the pelting rain, "Just up the mountain you say?"

Genitivi gave a wan smile, "Yes, just up…ummm…I might have misjudged the distance in my excitement."

Chandra shifted her pack to the other arm. She used her free hand to brush away the wet hair that plastered her face. She was soaked to the bone. I was outraged that she did not say anything. I directed my anger at the wounded man at her side, "You might have misjudged? Maybe just a little, old man."

I signaled to the elf, "We are going to break for camp."

The elf came bounding over, "There's a delightful little clearing just ahead." He unbound his long wet hair and gave it a good shake before retying it.

"Shall we," the blonde, bronzed elfin-god offered his arm to Chandra.

They disappeared into the trees, "Delightful."

I helped Genitivi over the fallen debris and half dragged him the remainder of the way. When she saw our approach, Chandra was instantly at the wounded man's side. She directed us over to a dry spot she had found under the covering of some trees.

The elf unsheathed one of his long daggers and absent mindlessly slapped his open palm with the flat end , "I'll keep an eye on the trail," he winked at Chandra.

I nodded in the direction of the elf, "What's that about?"

Chandra shrugged, "It's nothing to get you in a tizzy over, if that's what you wondering."

She knelt down beside Genitivi to check his wound, "Give him a healing potion," I noted the dark circles under her livid eyes, "You need to save your strength."

Genitivi patted her hand affectionately, "He's right, my dear, you look exhausted."

"I'm fine," Chandra protested.

"Sten, tell her," I bent to task to create a fire, "I give up."

"You sit here," he guided Chandra to a dry spot next to the fire I was attempting to make. He recovered her pack and withdrew her blanket from it. He wrapped the blanket around her as he would a child. Then again, next the qunari, she might as well be. Next, he delved into the pack and retrieved a healing potion that he tossed at Genitivi. "Drink this," he commanded.

My respect for the giant had grown daily since Chandra had rescued him from his self imposed prison. Sten folded his arms and rocked on his heels in a satisfactory way. "The giant was positively beaming," I thought to myself.

I piled moss over the wood that I had crisscrossed over one another. I struck the flint together several times to create a small flame then blew on it. Smoke billowed up around me and I coughed. I cleared my throat several times and made another attempt.

"What's with the smoke signals?" Chandra glared at me, "Are you trying to announce our presence to our enemies?"

My eyes began to burn and water as I fanned away the smoke, "The wood is too wet."

The blanket fell from Chandra's shoulders as she stood up, "All you had to do was ask." Arcane flames burst from her hands into a towering inferno.

"Heyyyy…Do you mind?" I jumped back, "I'd like to keep my eyebrows."

"I forgot, they're part of your boyish charm," Chandra flung over her shoulder as she made a place for Genitivi by the fire.

"Go ahead stomp on my feelings…all one of them!" I didn't bother looking back as I stomped into the forest to collect more wood, "That's telling her off."

When I returned Genitivi was warming his hands by the fire, Sten had begun forming a lean-to out of the branches he had assembled, and Chandra was curled up in a ball next to the fire.

"She fell asleep shortly after you left," Genitivi gestured toward Chandra.

I dropped the wood by the fire and set a pot to boil. I added some salted meat to the broth along with the vegetables I had picked in Haven. I handed some of the salted meat to Genitivi, "Sorry, it's not much."

"It's enough to fill these old bones," he patted his stomach gratefully.

Sten finished the rough shelter and sat down between the Genitivi and me, "You want me to relieve the elf?"

"He's fine for now," I handed Sten the salted meat. He refused then reached into his own pack and retrieved a cookie. He paused before biting down and offered me a piece, "No thank you."

I stared across the fire, through the flames, at Chandra's small still form. Her cheek rested lightly on her curled hand. The fire had dried her hair into a dark tangle of waves that fell across her pale face. I frowned, even in sleep her brow furrowed in concentration.

"If it wasn't for the missing leg, no would have ever known that I had been through such an ordeal," Genitive patted his stump, "Her healing powers are positively miraculous."

"Yes…positively miraculous," I murmured to Genitivi.

I all but forgot him as I sat up and walked over to Chandra. I gingerly picked her up and carried her to the shelter. I looked down at her, as she nestled closer, and was once again reminded of why I loved her. I laid her on the bed of pine needles and secured the blanket protectively around her. She frowned in her sleep as she reached out. I caught her hand, squeezed it gently, and then placed it under the covers.

"In the mountain there is a temple that protects the urn. The door can be unlocked with this key," Genitivi reached into his pocket and retrieved the medallion, "It can be manipulated like so. If you find the urn, you will return to Denerim to tell me about it, wont you?"

"I won't have to," I placed another log on the fire, "You're coming with us."

"You and I both know that's not feasible," he handed me the medallion, "I would only slow you down."

"There is wisdom in your words but she's the one you're gonna have to persuade," I gestured towards Chandra.

I listened to the crackling of the fire while I manipulated the medallion as Genitivi did until it formed a key. Chandra's fearful scream broke the silence as she leashed out at some unforeseen enemy.

"It's the taint," I walked over to Chandra and pressed a damp cloth to her forehead, "Our connection to the darkspawn bring on the nightmares."

"Are they always that vivid," questioned Genitivi.

"Sometimes...during a blight," I shook my head in helpless concern, "Perhaps it's her connection to the fade, I don't know." I returned to my place by the stew.

"Can I offer you some advice, young man?" Genitivi didn't wait for me to respond, "Such a rare and beautiful gift is hard to find. It would be a shame, should you lose it."

"Where's Zevran?" Chandra charged, "You haven't relieved him yet?" She grabbed up her sword and headed towards the path, towards the elf.

I followed her departure then turned and regarded Genitivi, "What if it was never yours to begin with?"

"Wisdom is like breath," Sten broke from his silent slumber, "You need it, but no other can you give you theirs."

"How are you supposed to find it then?"

"It's everywhere. In every moment of eternity is a chance to find it," Sten plopped another cookie in his mouth, "You have only to reach for it."

"I think what our giant friend is trying to say is…go after to her boy."

(Chandra)

"Chandra, can we talk?"

"Now…is not a good time."

"If I waited for a good time, then we would never speak."

"That wouldn't be so bad, would it?" I had been trying to avoiding this conversation for several days now, but was running out of excuses.

Zevran purposely turned his back on Alistair and directed his attention to me, "Do you need me here?"

"No, that wont be necessary," I quickly hugged Zev, "Thank you for everything."

"And who could resist such a request, no?" Zevran brushed his lips across my cheek in a parting kiss.

I stared after Zevran's departing form and waited for the inevitable. "All right, I really don't know how to ask you this," Alsitair questioned.

I summoned the strength to confront him; after all, he deserved to hear the truth. I turned to face him, "Ask me what?"

It was an eternity before he answered, "I'm wondering about Zevran, really. It seems like the two of you have become quite…friendly."

"I suppose we have," His question threw me.

"Zev's a lucky bastard. That's all I really have to say about it. I hope he makes you happy." Alistair's voice sounded broken and hurt.

He turned to leave. I grabbed his hand to stop him, "It's not like that…It's not what you think."

Alistair withdrew his hand from mine, "Then why don't you tell me just how it is!"

"We're just friends," I explained.

"Really, I was under the impression that the two of you were romantically involved," Alistair accused.

I pressed my lips together in a straight line, "I just enjoy his company."

"As oppose to mine?" he whispered in that same hurt voice.

I couldn't bare it any longer. I held my hands over my ears and turned away, "Yes…No…I don't know."

He grabbed my wrist and dragged me to him, "Which is it?"

"Neither," I answered truthfully, "You're going to be king."

"You don't know that," he tried to assure me, "But, if you want to stop this now, before it goes any further..."

I slowly backed away, "I would rather you hate me for everything I am, than have you love me for something I can't be."