We walked and walked well into the next day. Leliana was singing as we went; some slow songs and some upbeat. I would hum along if I knew them but I loved her voice so I would never try to sing. When I was young my mother would sing to me and make me sing with her. A few times she had me sing in front of guests and they all claimed I was quite good. Probably just to suck up to my parents but it gave me a little confidence none the less. I smiled at the memory.

"What are you thinking about?" Leliana asked as we trudged along. I glanced at her and looked ahead, trying to keep an eye out for bandits.

"When I was young my mother tried to teach me to sing," I said, "I was just remembering."

"Ooh! What songs do you know?" She was so cute when she got excited, I had to smile.

"I remember a few older ones, but there are some from that other land that I loved." I thought back to Adele, Florence and the Machine, Billy Joel... some of my favorite artists. I shook my head, realizing I would never hear them again.

"Can you sing me one?" She grabbed my arm as we walked, smiling at me. I laughed.

"I'm no professional, Lel," I said as we continued down the path. Up ahead I saw some brush move and stopped, nodding in that direction. Leliana nodded and we started walking again.

"You don't have to be a professional, silly, just sing!" she exclaimed. "How about something up beat? To keep us moving." We smiled at each other knowingly as we approached the area.

"Alright," I said as I pulled down my shield slowly, buckling it to my arm, "Florence it is!" I cleared my throat and reached underneath my cloak to put a hand on my sword, waiting for the first one to make an appearance.

As I glanced to my right I saw one diving toward me, so I went back to back with Leliana. Her daggers drawn, she let out a war cry and went at the group appearing on her side. Drawing my sword, I shield bashed the first two and pummeled the third on the head then I swung my sword around and took another one out at the knees. The first two were coming around so I speared one through the neck and yanked out my sword, spinning to gain momentum and taking the other's head off. The pommel victim was still out cold but I wasn't taking any chances so I jabbed him through the chest before turning on the last one. He was bleeding out due to the wound I gave him across his knees so I dropped my shield and grabbed his armor with that hand, yanking him up to face me.

"Who sent you?" I asked. He looked down so I got a better grip on the chest piece and shook him good. "WHO SENT YOU?"

"I don't know!" he screeched out, the color draining from his face as he continued to lose blood. "We were just told who to look for and where we could pick up our money! I swear!"

"Who were you looking for and where were you to get your money?" Leliana asked from behind me, obviously done dispatching her foes.

"A red head," he whispered as he began losing consciousness, "and a hovel in Denerim, near the chantry." And then he was gone. As I released him he slumped over and hit the ground with a thud. I sighed and looked at Leliana.

"I know you didn't see this coming," I said as I stood up, "but I did. Marjolaine." Leliana sighed angrily and shook her head.

"Why couldn't she just leave me alone?" she growled as I put a hand on her shoulder.

"That bitch is no reflection on you now, Lel, who you have become. I truly hope you know that," I said. "I swear to you I will help in any way I can, whatever you need." I released her, wiping my gauntlet across the dead man's face. "Maybe we should have brought more men." Leliana took my shoulder.

"No, you made the right call." She stared at the man, pale and lifeless. "We will be better off on our own, faster and harder to track." She turned to me and smiled. "I trust you, at my back and with my life, Kora. We will be fine." I looked around at the carnage and smiled, nodding my head.

"Still want to hear that song?" I asked as we started dragging the bodies off the highway.

"Oh yes, please!" I giggled.

"I'll sing the beginning, but it takes a lot of air that I won't have while walking." I grabbed a rather ornate dagger from one of the dead soldiers and kicked him over the ledge. "It's a bit violent, but I do love a good tale of carnage," I shouted as she pushed a few of the bodies off the cliff on the other side of the road. She turned and grinned.

"As do I, let's hear it!" She said as we made our way back down the road. I handed her the dagger and she looked it over, nodding approval.

If you could only see, the beast you made of me
I held it in but now it seems you set it running free

As I sung we walked arm in arm and I realized that I felt just as close to Leliana as I did Cailan, felt just as comfortable. I rested my head on her shoulder.

Screaming in the dark, I howl when we're apart
Drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart
My fingers claw your skin, try to tear my way in
You are the moon that breaks the night for which I have to howl
My fingers claw your skin, try to tear my way in
You are the moon that breaks the night for which I have to…

I took a deep breath and suddenly I felt something strange in my spine that made me stop dead. Leliana leaned her head on mine.

"What is it?" she whispered. I lifted my head and closed my eyes, centering myself.

"Not sure yet," I whispered as I released her arm, "but I intend to find out." I reached out with my mind, envisioning our surroundings. I could feel some small animals, the trees and the terrain. Reaching out further I felt something odd, like a prickling at the base of my neck that made all my hair stand up. "No, it can't be."

"What's wrong?" she asked quietly as she scanned the area around us, pulling out her daggers. I shook my head.

"Get out your bow," I whispered, "I'll keep them back and away from you." My whole body tensed as I pulled out my sword and shield, opening my eyes and nodding in front of us.

"Keep who back?" she asked. I almost didn't want to answer, truly hoping I was wrong. The way I had heard some of the Wardens describe darkspawn and how it feels when they sense them was so similar… too similar.

"I think there are darkspawn ahead," I whispered as I took my closed-face helm from my pack and put it on. I slowly made my way forward, holding up my shield to keep Leliana behind me. "If I rush them just keep an eye out and stay back. Your bow will be more effective than your daggers, trust me." She pulled out a bottle of some red liquid and pulled her quiver off her back, dumping it over the tips quickly then throwing it back over her shoulder.

"Morrigan gave me some poison that is supposed to do well against them," she whispered, "I guess we shall find out." She readied her bow, knocking an arrow.

We made our way slowly, trying not to make noise or draw attention to ourselves. I could feel the creatures off the road to the right, far enough away that if we were quiet they may not even have known we were there. I started to wonder how it was that I was even picking up on them but decided to put that thought aside and concentrate on them not picking up on US.

As we started to pass their group I felt one stray and start toward us. I put a hand up to stop Leliana and lowered my helm visor, raising my sword. His approach wasn't stealthy by any means which meant he probably didn't know we were there but once he reached the road I swear his jaw dropped as an arrow sprung from his chest. I recognized the white and blue fletching as Leliana's and smiled but the smile quickly faded as I felt the group become aware of the commotion and all move toward our position. I waved Leliana back.

"Find cover and stay there!" I shouted. She disappeared into her purple smoke and I turned to face the group closing in on me. "Maker guide my sword," I whispered as I moved into my fighting stance.

The first six were all genlocks so they were dispatched quickly with a few spinning sweeps. Three Hurlock bolters stayed back by the tree line but soon found arrows bursting from their torsos. Pushing their dead bodies aside, a Hurlock alpha let out a battle cry as he raised his sword over his head and charged at me. I crouched down, ready to propel him behind me when an arrow flew over my head and into his left eye. He stopped in his tracks, falling to his knees. I smiled and raised my visor when he suddenly spewed that black liquid right at my face, then fell over dead.

"FUCK!" I hissed as I ripped the helmet off, spitting repeatedly and squeezing my eyes shut. "Lel, do you have water?" I felt her place something on my shoulder. Dropping my sword and shield, I ripped my gauntlet off and reached over to find the water skin. As I took the other gauntlet off I poured some into my hand and proceeded to rinse out my mouth and wash my face.

"Here," Leliana whispered, "Let me." She took the skin and I felt her wiping around my eyes and nose. "There, that should be alright." I slowly opened my eyes to see her smiling face. I smiled as much as I could and sighed.

"Note to self," I said, "keep the visor down until they lay dead on the ground, dummy." I spit again for good measure and gathered up my things. "I swear I tempt fate every time I step outside." I stood, starting down the road. Leliana giggled.

"Don't we all."

About an hour later I took a deep breath and started to relax, putting my sword and shield on my back.

"I think we're safe," I whispered as I started to breathe regularly again. Leliana took a deep breath of relief, putting her arrow back in the quiver and her bow across her back.

"Maker's breath," she breathed out, "I am so glad you are with me." She laughed as she slung an arm around me, giving me a squeeze. I laughed and put both my arms around her, hugging her tight.

"I'm glad you are with me too, holy HELL my heart has taken up residence in my throat!" I released her and kept walking, trying to slow my pulse and get focused again. "My stamina is shot, I can't sense a damned thing right now." I rubbed my temples trying to focus but I was spent.

"Maybe we should camp up ahead. We've been walking since before the sun came up and it's getting late," Leliana suggested and I nodded, looking around for a spot off the road as we walked. A few more miles ahead I was confident any darkspawn were far enough away and we spotted a cluster of boulders that were hanging over a ledge. I looked behind them and right underneath was a perfect spot for a fire and some cover. It had obviously been used before, a fire pit had been dug and there were some remnants of bones and food scraps around. I dropped my pack and weapons, pulling out my bedroll and shaking it out by the pit.

"I'll go grab some fire wood," I said as I stalked off into the woods.

"I think I hear a stream nearby, I will get some water!" Leliana shouted after me.

After our meal of jerky and some berries Leliana found along the way I pulled out a bottle of bourbon I had snagged from the sitting room at Redcliffe. Smiling, I took a long pull and handed it to Leliana. She took it gratefully.

"How do you think you sensed those darkspawn?" she asked. I shook my head.

"Maybe it's just my awareness," I said as she handed me back the bottle, "maybe I picked up something from Caden. We share dreams so I guess it's possible we could share abilities. In other words, no clue." I smiled and took another swig, handing it back to her. She held it in her hand, looking at it thoughtfully. I could see her body language change so I reached out to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me and smiled.

"I miss her," she whispered as she turned her eyes to the fire, her face going stoic. My heart clenched as I took my hand away, staring into the fire as well.

"I miss him too," I said. I felt tears stinging the back of my eyes but had not the strength, nor the will to hold them back. I felt them sliding down my cheeks as the regret started to sink in.

I should have left him a letter, I should have said good bye, I shouldn't have left it like that, I shouldn't have LEFT; so many regrets and no where to put them, I thought to myself as I rubbed the tears away. I have to be reasonable, logical. My logical mind told me that leaving was the right thing to do, not leaving a letter and not saying good bye was the most selfless thing I could have done and I needed to focus on my task. All I could do was move forward and stop looking back but how do I do that when I don't know where I'm going? I sighed.

"You know," Leliana began, "I have to say that I do enjoy you and Alistair as a couple. You are so beautiful together! I bet you would have such beautiful BABIES!" She giggled incessantly as I reached over to slap her on the back.

"There are certain "activities" that must be enjoyed first, Lel," I smiled and winked, "but sadly I did not enjoy them with him." I shrugged as her expression went to shock.

"Wait," she thought for a moment then gasped, "NO! You did NOT!" I laughed.

"NO! No, no activities with anyone." I thought back to the incident in the alienage and grew sad. "Not intentionally anyway. Hey!" I snapped trying to change the subject, "Give that back missy!" I reached for the bottle in her hands as she yanked it away.

"Nuh uh!" she wagged her finger at me. "You need to elaborate on that one my dear." I shook my head.

"That is a conversation for another night," I said as I stretched and yawned. "Don't lose that bottle." I winked as I stood up and walked over to my tent. I felt a small pebble hit me in the back so I turned around and smiled. "You're really going to make me tell you NOW?" Leliana smiled and winked, stretching out her arm toward me with the bottle in her hand. "Well, I guess I'm not as tired as I thought," I said as I made my way back over to the fire.

"Story time!" Leliana exclaimed as she relinquished the bottle and sat cross legged on the ground in front of me. I shook my head at her and took a long pull from the bottle.

"This is not a happy-ending kind of story, fair warning," I said as I thought back to that night. I looked into the fire, feeling the tension build up in my chest. I took a deep breath and released it, pushing out the tension along with the air in my lungs. "It was horrific and terrifying but I will say one thing… it played a large part in my life choices and making me who I am today." Leliana's hand found its way to my knee, pulling me out of my memory. I looked at her face and she smiled.

"Sometimes it's the horrors and tragedies in our lives that have the most positive impacts on us as a person," she said with sadness in her eyes. "I firmly believe that." I nodded.

"As do I."

The next day as we walked Leliana brought up our conversation from the previous night. I realized I was more comfortable talking to her about it so I told her about how my father had reacted.

"Oh my dear," Leliana whispered as she took my hand. "That must have been awful! And then you took on all that guilt from Vaughan's actions as well? You do know that his decisions are his own, yes?" She gave me a concerned look, the kind that reminded me of my mother. I smiled at the memory.

"I do now," I said as I bumped her shoulder with mine. "It took me a long time to come to terms with that but I did. Recently in fact." She gave me a questioning look and I smiled wider. "Cailan."

"Cailan," she said suspiciously, "If I may make an observation?" I nodded and she continued. "I noticed the expression on your face when you say his name, much different from the expression you have when you say Alistair's." She thought for a moment. "There is a lot there, isn't there? Things that you are unsure of?"

I looked away, unable to answer and unsure of what answer my eyes would betray. Leliana took my arm, stopping me, and took my chin to look me straight in the eye.

"Anything and everything we say to each other is kept in the strictest of confidence, you know this." She released my chin and I nodded.

"I was…confused," I said as I looked down at my hands. "I came back into this world fighting the reality of it, then trying to deal with my feelings... the complete certainty of where my heart was. Alistair's devotion to the woman in the stories was heart wrenching but to see it with my own eyes and feel it with my own body," I felt my heart swell as tears threatened my eyes, "it was as if I had been waiting for him my entire life. I love him for his compassion, his innocence; his sense of humor, his steadfastness to what he believes is right, his aggression on the battle field..." I paused, not wanting to say the next thought out loud. A soft smile from Leliana told me she knew what followed. How he made my heart pound out of my chest and blood rush to certain parts… the way he made me FEEL. I felt my body respond to the memory of his touch and blushed. Leliana dragged me a bit to continue down the path.

"And Cailan," she said, "the confusion?" I sighed deeply and nodded.

"Cailan." I said his name in a whisper. "That man could have me all sorts of tied up in knots if I didn't pay attention. Did you know Caden and I saved his life even though I didn't want to?" I laughed. "He was such an ass before this all happened. I thought for sure reviving him was a mistake and now…" I stared ahead, imagining his face, those eyes. "I know now that I couldn't have made it this far without him. He is my best friend." I felt my heart leap up into my throat. "And yet…"

"There feels like there is more, no?" Leliana asked.

"More that there COULD be more, but I have no idea where it came from and it makes me feel guilty as hell. I can't believe I am going to say this out loud but…" I sighed and shook my head. "They are both strong, physically and emotionally, but Cailan's strength is a quiet strength, refined where Alistair is younger, more rugged. They are both intelligent and witty but their sense of humor is drastically different from the other. Their sense of justice is equal but Alistair can be quick to anger where Cailan is more methodical. Maker, they so alike and yet so different…" Frustration built up in my chest so I shook my head, trying to clear it. "It doesn't matter, I don't know why I am so wound up over it."

"What makes you say that? I have seen these two look at you when you are not aware," she said with a grin. "They both have feelings for you Kora. I am sure of it." I shook my head again.

"It doesn't matter, I can't be with either one of them," I said. "Can we change the subject? Hey look, a darkspawn!" I pointed off into the distance and Leliana laughed.

"If you do not want to talk, I understand, but that does not mean I cannot speak." She smiled. "Kora, I think of you as a dear friend. I trust you and you seem to trust me so I will say my piece then be done with it. You are a woman, a woman who has had a difficult life and has overcome many obstacles to get where she is now. A woman who deserves love, to BE loved, in the same way that you are capable of loving another. And yet you find any reason NOT to be happy. Just once I wish you would stop thinking and just DO. Take action, live in the moment. Only then can you truly say what can and cannot be possible. THERE! I am done," she said as she looked around curiously. "So where was that darkspawn again?" We giggled and continued down the path toward Denerim.

Toward home.