Gathering my bathing materials, I headed off down the small hill to the spring that snaked its way through the land behind our camp. We used this spring for all our needs and the water was always fresh as it was constantly flowing from the mountains surrounding us.

I wanted to take a quick bath before supper and speak with Alistair about today and if there was anything else we might be able to do for his sister and two nephews. I also needed to speak with Wynne about what was troubling her.

The water was always cold but I had adjusted to its bite over time and I quickly stripped my clothing off, already invigorated by the chill in the darkening air.

Wading into the small pool, I dunked my bar of soap and my washcloth and began working up a lather in my hands.

"Why must you always be in my way?"

A voice came from behind me and lo and behold- Morrigan stood behind me, towel and soap in her hand.

"I am only in your way if you want to be where I am."

"Well where you are happens to be where we all bathe, so I do not see that I have any choice but to deal with you again."

"Oh, you could always wait until I am done if it is so horrid to be around me."

Morrigan appeared to mull that over.

"By the time you are done, it will be dark and...I prefer to get this over with."

"Come on in then, pretty lady. The water is lovely!"

I laughed and splashed at Morrigan and as always, I got the glare and then she clucked that tongue of hers at me.

I wonder if she knew there were better uses for it.

I turned to give Morrigan a bit of peace to undress and began washing up, my body shivering a bit now that I had been in the water a few minutes already. I decided to give Morrigan a break and just continued washing as I heard her step into the pool with me and I did not harass her further.

I rinsed my hair and began shaking most of the water out of it so as not to soak my towel and then I noticed Morrigan was pretty close to me in the pool, although it was not that spacious to begin with.

"What is it that you are up to?"

I looked at her, absolutely confused.

"Up to? I am not up to anything, Morrigan."

"You are simply too quiet so you must be planning something wicked."

I smiled and finished rinsing off.

"Do you miss me when I do not bother you, Morrigan?"

I smiled as she glared and gave her what she wanted as I splashed her.

"Is that better?"

Morrigan shook her head and gave her insult her best shot.

"You are so childish. And you claim to be of noble blood? 'Tis apparent the nug in camp has more intelligence than you."

"Morrigan...you'd best stop that right now..."

I sang my words to her, laughing the whole while.

"You are only provoking me further."

I kept pelting her with little splashes and reminded her that she had asked for it.

"I have asked for nothing but for you to leave me be, yet you continue your foolishness."

"Yes, because when I do leave you be, you ask me when next I will be bothering you."

Morrigan jerked her cloth under the water with a splash.

"Oh, do shut up!"

I laughed and walked out of the pool, bowing to her and laughing that I could illicit such a response.

"As you wish."

I shivered violently, having stayed in the water too long and I tried to towel off quickly and then I put on my fresh clothes. Warming up a bit, I picked up all my things from the ground and turned to return to camp.

Morrigan was behind me then and I felt her hand in the middle of my chest as she pushed me back against the tree behind me that my towel was draped upon.

Morrigan moved so close to me and I gasped as I felt her breath in my ear and then her words came.

"Be wary of what you wish for."

Morrigan moved away from me then and I smiled back at her stern face.

"And you as well, Morrigan."

Morrigan said nothing else but moved away from me, seeming surprised that I was not intimidated.

"Was that not touching, Morrigan? I thought you did not tolerate any manner of touching?"

Morrigan shook her head and moved further from me but I was not about to let her get away with this.

"So was that a good touch or a bad touch, Morrigan?"

Morrigan grunted and clucked her tongue again, glaring at me.

"As if you would know the difference, Warden."

"Actually, I do."

I moved towards Morrigan and slid my hand onto her shoulder, drawing as close to her as she had been to me just moments ago and whispered into her ear.

"Surely you cannot hide behind your walls forever."

It seems Morrigan was rooted where she was but of course she still maintained her glare at me as I moved away from her, not wishing to further incite her wrath.

I walked past her and back up the hill, feeling a strange tingle within.

Morrigan really needs a release.

I have never seen her this...perturbed.

Maddening woman!

How she found the nerve to...

Morrigan could not complete her thought as she generated such an exasperated grunt and resigned herself to the freezing pool instead, assured that the frosty water would wash away any sensation that I had left behind.

Now that I was clean and fresh, I could face the rest of the crew and I spotted Alistair sitting over near the pond and I started towards him after putting my things away.

You could see the sun's reflection in the pond and the colors in the sky were impressive enough to make me stop and stare for a moment before I greeted Alistair as I approached behind him.

"Oh, hey! Have a seat."

I dropped down next to Alistair and he smiled at me.

"You are happy, Alistair... And I am happy for you."

That smile he'd worn all day returned and once again Alistair gushed about how he was so happy to have his new family in his life.

"It's all thanks to you. I would never have gone by myself to meet them but you were there for me and you went with me. I want you to know how much that means."

I held up my hand, bringing attention to the ring on my middle finger.

"And every time I look at this ring, I will think of all that happiness."

Alistair smiled and then it faded.

"I only wish that I had remembered to give Goldanna our mother's locket. I think that she would really love having it. I don't think she has anything that belonged to our mother."

"Oh you forgot? No matter though, you can just save it until next time you see them. The Landsmeet is only days away and we will be back in Denerim for that."

"Right, right! And I can take the boys fishing! And we can have a picnic on the lake...There is just so much..."

Alistair trailed off and I looked at him, wondering why and now Alistair was frowning.

"I'm sorry, Detra..."

"What? Why?"

"Because here I am talking endlessly about my family when you have so recently lost yours. I feel so selfish."

I pulled my knees up towards my chest and threw a stone into the water, watching the ripples splay outward to the sides. I was not about to dash Alistair's mood because of my loss.

"It's all right, Alistair. I know I will see them again one day. And all is not lost, my brother Fergus still lives. He is one tough bugger and he will return to Denerim when the war has ended and we have won, I just know it. I do not think he perished."

Alistair just stared at me for a moment and I tilted into him with my body, nudging him.

"What is it?"

"I just want you to know that I think you are a wonderful person."

I smiled and looked away, his attention embarrassing me.

"I'm glad you found your family, Alistair, and I am glad that you can be with them. Do not ever feel badly about that. And those boys- they simply adore you."

Alistair smiled at the mention of the boys and his eyes went askew for a moment, lost in his thoughts.

"Goldanna and the boys are not the only family that I have."

Alistair looked at me with such sincerity and he swung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him.

I smiled as I understood what he was saying and the two of us just sat near the pond, watching the last of the sunset together.