Isa was everywhere; in his thoughts, dreams, on his skin, lips, heart. Their night together had done nothing to vanquish the fire, it had only alleviated it. If Lea had been in agony before their night together, he was miserable now. Each encounter had to be planned meticulously and not even then where they granted a moment's peace together. Lea would follow the huntsmen from afar and wait for Isa to find an excuse to break from the group. The plan had worked wonders until Isa found himself forced to bring rabbits back to camp. He had a reputation to upkeep. He could not come home empty handed. The huntsmen had made it a habit to follow him in the forest since. The closer to the coast they came, the harder it became to find places to hide.

The bear attack on the elf weeks earlier had been the most Healer Even had been faced with since Lea was made assistant. Even had found other ways to pass his time of late and Lea spent most of his walking from one side to the other when he wasn't practicing on his archery.

"Infirmary?" came a familiar voice from outside the tent. "I've hurt myself."

Isa stepped inside. He held a cloth tainted in crimson spots over his right hand.

"What happened? Were you attacked?" Lea hurried to his side.

"I may have gripped a blade too tightly. It's not as bad as it looks."

"Give it here. You know better than to grip a sword by its blade." Lea removed the cloth to assess the wound and sighed in relief. A simple healing spell was more than enough to close the wound.

"I do know better," Isa said fondly as Lea healed him. "I just needed an excuse to come here."

Lea held onto Isa's hips when he leaned in for a kiss. Their need for each other was turning them into a danger for themselves. Lea recognized it but found that he would rather die in bliss than live in constant yearning.

"Don't harm yourself for me, Isa," Lea mumbled and pulled Isa into an embrace.

"What is it like to do magic?" Isa asked against the nape of Lea's neck.

"I don't know how to explain it. It comes as naturally as breathing to me now. You have had mages in your clan, haven't you?"

"Yes, but their magic has never interested me. I worry for you. Does it not hurt you to not use your magic?"

"No, I don't think so. I try to use it every now and then. While I wish to be normal, I do not want to lose my ability."

Isa moved away to pace.

"I have been thinking. About us. Our predicament. I can't live off brief moments with you, Lea. I want us to have a life together, to not have to sneak around like delinquents to see each other."

"Isa, don't…" Lea's chest nearly parted in two at Isa's words. Their situation was not ideal, but Lea would rather have it than nothing at all. "Please."

"What?" Isa laughed and rushed back to Lea to kiss him again. "My intention is not to have us walk separate paths, Lea. I…" Isa lowered his voice. "There is a village two days' walk inland. We encountered human hunters and their village is still standing. If you are willing, we could leave."

"Wh… desert, you mean? Isa…"

"It will be an adjustment, I know, but, the same was true for you when you escaped the Circle. I need a purpose. Hunting animals while the final battle draws closer with a promise of certain death, it isn't enough for me. I feel alive with you, Lea. Every moment spent away from you is a moment wasted. I'm willing to leave this behind, but only if you come with me."

Lea grinned, nodded. The ache he thought would shatter his rib cage disappeared as fast as it had come, dissolved into sunshine he was certain had him glowing like the sun.

"When the moons stand a quarter apart, meet me by the road," Isa said carefully.

"Tonight?"

"Tonight. Denerim is only a week away. This is our only chance."

"A quarter apart," Lea repeated. His first thought was the dangers of blood mages. His second was a reminder; he was not escaping the Circle. In comparison, this was going to be easy unless Isa's clan members were as resilient as the templars.

"In here?" they heard Even say as he approached the tent. Lea and Isa stood aside just as Even walked in and gave them both a questioning look. "What is this?"

"I cut my hand," Isa said and held out his hand.

"Where?" Even looked at it closely.

"I healed it. With the Elfroot paste. I healed his wound with the Elfroot paste. Works wonders," Lea rambled.

"It really does," Even said in awe and turned on Isa's hand. "The Keeper wishes to see you, Isa. Better not keep him waiting."

Nighttime could not come soon enough. The camp fires were but smouldering coal when Lea snuck across the camp. The night was pitch black. Neither star nor moon light made it past the trees. With him Lea had brought his bow and a dozens arrows. Outside the clan he was still an apostate. He would use his magic when convenient and only then.

The moons stood a quarter apart high upon the sky. Lea could barely see in the dim moonlight, but he knew he was at the mainroad when grass turned to gravel. Isa was nowhere to be seen. Lea squinted and looked down both sides of the road. Isa was taking a big risk in leaving. The clan was everything to the Dalish, to renounce it was to leave it forever.

Lea tensed at the sound of approaching steps. He squatted and strained his sight to make out the dark figure down the road.

"Lea?"

"Over here." Lea sighed in relief and rose to approach Isa. "I was worried."

"Sorry, I was... having doubts," Isa admitted and hung his head. "The Keeper spoke with me today. He must have suspected something."

"Do you doubt still? What did he say?"

"He warned me of humans. Reminded me of our history. The injustices."

"I've read a little about elven history. I can see why he would be worried, why you would. We don't have to leave, Isa. We can stay. Pray that we survive the war and see where to go from there."

"I don't want that," Isa said after a brief moment of silence. "Yes, I'm frightened about leaving, but I want to be with you. My heart, my loyalty, lies with you."

"I will burst like a firework, Isa," Lea warned, grinning like a lunatic.

"With joy, I hope," Isa chuckled.

"It is definitely joy."

"We should hurry then." Isa found Lea's hand and held it tenderly in his as he walked in direction of this nameless village where they hoped to find peace.