The First had taken over soon after the Keeper had fallen at the unforeseen attack in Haven. His name was Terra, a man of strength and few words. Lea had heard whispers of him. He hadn't always been a man of few words. The sudden loss of their Keeper had been a harsh blow to morale and Terra had been forced to shoulder a mourning clan while still in grief. Terra was caught the former Keeper's shadow and he did not how to step out of it. His hatred for humans was well-known amongst the elves in his clan. Should he find out that Lea was an apostate too, Lea feared he would meet a painful end.

Isa had said nothing to the others and he had spoken very little with Lea afterward. They made it back to camp late in the evening, carrying the animal in pieces. Lea had thought of escaping. He had escaped from the templars once, but well in camp, it was too late. He had nowhere to go and no strength left to keep walking. The death of the ram haunted him. Its lifeless eyes sickened him. Perhaps there was sin in him, after all.

Lea sat down by a lonely campfire and sought Isa's eyes but found only a cold shoulder. Isa went with the two other hunters to the Keeper's tent. Imprisonment lay in his immediate future until they could find a templar. Maybe they would try to exchange him for food or sell him off as a slave. Humans had done the same with elves in much greater scale.

Mages were born in sin. A lump lay thick and insistent in Lea's throat. He was a sin but still he wanted to live as though he wasn't. There had to be more to life than the Circle and the Chantry. Roxas would have fought for his right. Hopefully, he still was. Lea wiped his tears away and stared bitterly into the faint flames.

"They are happy with the meat."

Isa sat down by Lea and glanced at him

"What happens to me?" Lea asked.

"You will get your share too."

"What?" Lea snivelled.

"I've grown fond of you, shemlen," Isa admitted and smiled bashfully. "But please, keep your gift hidden. Our new Keeper would make use of you should he discover your secret."

"I will keep it hidden. I promise. I will not make you regret this, Isa. Thank you. Thank you, thank you." Lea left his place by the campfire to embrace Isa. He pulled him in close and realized only that he had been shivering when Isa patted his back.

"At ease, soldier, or you will raise suspicion."

"Sorry." Lea sat back, a smile on his face. "Do I not frighten you?"

"Do you make use of blood magic?" Isa mouthed the last two words with glances back.

Lea shook his head.

"Andraste's honest truth," Lea said.

"In that case, no. You do not frighten me. We usually have at least two mages per clan; our Keeper and the First. Sometimes, a Second.. We lost two and our new Keeper was not blessed with magic. He dislikes humans, but hates human mages more. So, please."

"I will be careful."

"Do you have any relatives to go back to?" Isa asked.

"I don't know. I was taken away by the templars when I was six. I accidentally set our neighbor's barn on fire in my sleep. My village was to the south. If Loitering has fallen, my village has too."

"Many escaped to Kirkwall in the Free Marches. Your family could be amongst the refugees."

"Even if that were true, I cannot leave. I'm waiting for a friend."

"Is it a special friend?" Isa looked at him intently.

"Very."

"I understand." Isa looked at the fire and then at his boots. "I will go get your share of meat." Before Lea could answer, Isa hurried back to the tents.