We arrived back at camp before the sun was even near setting and everyone expected Alistair to talk endlessly about the meeting with his sister but he was still quiet and still smiling to himself.

Zevran had kept his word and the campsite was exceptionally tidy, as wilderness went anyhow. He had also repaired the damage around his tent by filling in the hole.

I greeted Sten who was close by and after receiving a low grunt back from him, headed to my tent, dropping my pack inside and saw Alistair moving about the fire now and I was curious as to what he was doing.

He was starting dinner it seems as he put some additional chicken he had bought in Denerim into his usual pot and added some vegetables and other items. I had forgotten it was his night to cook.

I walked to him and offered my help.

"No thanks! I'm just going to set this to cook and it should be done soon."

Alistair was extremely chipper and I was very glad to see him so. After Duncan had died, it almost seemed as if most of Alistair had died with him. It saddened me so to hear Alistair talk of wanting to have been with Duncan during the Ostagar battle but I understood why he felt that way. He knew he would surely have perished but at least Duncan would not have died alone, on a field littered with allies' bodies already being fed upon by the cursed Darkspawn filth.

But now that Alistair knew he had family and that they were safe, his zest for life had returned, especially when he thought of his two nephews. Uncle Alistair would make them proud.

It also did not hurt that we were winning on the home front so far either and the Landsmeet was almost upon us. The fate of Ferelden would be decided soon enough.

Leliana was walking Shmooples around the camp and Oghren, drunk of course, was yelling out to her about how succulent Shmooples looked. Leliana's mouth dropped open as she looked back at him and she moved far from Oghren, toward the trees, a horrified look on her face, considering what he was saying.

I walked to Oghren and he turned to me as I arrived.

"Heyyyyyy, Warden! Care to *hic* join you for a drink?"

"Oghren, you must stop referring to Shmooples as a 'snack' and such, you are distressing Leliana. I think she believes that you might eat him one day, so please..."

"And I *HIC* would too! Nugs are sodding delicious with an ale batter!"

Leliana's face grew even more despondent as she overheard his shouting and she started to move a little quicker with Shmooples, fearing the worst from the inebriated dwarf.

"Oghren- quit it! Shmooples is her pet and you're making her nervous, so please stop!"

Oghren looked as if offended then laughed loudly before falling over backwards. I knew he has passed out because the alcohol drained from his mug into the ground. A conscious Oghren would never have allowed that to happen.

He would sleep it off and then wake up in a couple of hours to repeat the same exact thing. I do not know how he could stand to ingest so much alcohol but then again, he had so much practice over the years. Drink or no, Oghren was a mighty force to be reckoned with.

I looked for where Leliana and Shmooples had ended up and saw them both now standing near Morrigan's fire and Leliana and Morrigan actually looked involved in conversation.

That probably isn't good.

Briskly making my way over in their direction, I caught Morrigan giving her opinion of Shmooples.

"Take that scaly, bald, pink thing away from my camp straight away! I do not want that rodent's droppings underfoot! Away with you!"

Leliana was defending Shmooples' honor and stating that he had already done his business in his own area but Morrigan wanted none of it.

"Away I said! 'Tis a dirty little beast and I do not want it near me."

"Awww, Morrigan! Shmooples is not dirty, he is a sweetheart."

I clapped my hands as I approached the three of them and Shmooples stopped munching grass and scampered over to me as I kneeled down and he greeted me by jumping up on my knees and licking my face.

"Who's the special little pink man, huh? Yes, that's you!"

I scratched behind Shmooples' ears and he gave me his happy eyes.

"Oh lovely, you are sure to get the plague now. That filthy beast must have diseases that men do not even know of yet. I shudder to think of where he has been, in addition to licking his bottom."

I laughed at Morrigan and she sighed, disgusted.

"If you are going to let that creature climb all over you, do it elsewhere!"

I continued laughing, thoroughly enjoying Morrigan's unease just as she always relished ours. I picked Shmooples up into my arms and he calmly rode with me over to Morrigan's tent, all the while Morrigan yelling at me to get away with him.

"Are you insane? Take it away this instant!"

I turned so that Morrigan could fully view Shmooples' little face.

"But look at him, is he not the cutest nug you have ever seen?"

"Away!"

Morrigan screeched at me and my mouth fell open. I had not expected her to get so upset.

"I'm sorry."

I apologized to him before I put Shmooples down and he sprinted back towards Leliana and away from the loud human. I shouldn't have subjected him to Morrigan, not when she is like this.

Leliana scooped him up and walked back towards the others, having had her fill of Morrigan for the night. Perhaps even for the whole week.

I walked back towards Morrigan and she stared at me, still outraged by my actions and an angry aura surrounded her.

"Morrigan, I was only joking with you. You needn't get so upset."

"After you have had that mangy beast all over you, do not presume to come near me, Warden. I'll not abide the smell."

I walked closer to Morrigan and she backed up.

"What- you? Afraid of a little dirt? I think not. Shmooples is a good boy if you give him a chance."

"Away, Warden. I am warning you."

"Warning...what? Morrigan, you need to relax. Please."

Morrigan's chest heaved and I looked into her eyes and there was more than anger there.

There was heat.

I moved even closer and she did not speak again but I saw her fists tighten further and she looked towards the ground.

"You know, you are so very cute when you are angry..."

Morrigan's eyes darted back up to mine and she looked dismayed but I caught the glimmer of curiosity behind it all.

I could not help but flirt with a beautiful woman and this was not the first time it had happened. It was one of my vices, and Morrigan was no different, angry mage or not. There had always been something about her that made me think twice and every time we spoke, it only grew stronger.

"Let me know if you need any help relaxing, Morrigan. I am sure I have something that would help you."

A triumphant smile upon my face, I turned from Morrigan and let her stew in her own infuriated juices, in disbelief that I had such courage with such a woman as Morrigan.