MoonPriestess30: Take your time, my work will always be here when you're ready to read and take a moment to yourself. Never hesitate to contact me if you just need a neutral ear to vent to, I'm the invisible friend of the internet. The holidays were what they are with young children and this year hasn't been off to a great start but that's just what it is and I'm rolling with the punches. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, I have completed the story, I've just got to upload it.

Judy: I'm glad you think so! Have another.

A/N: Apologies for the massive notes, here's the chapter.

Chapter 6

Carrying Mena meant that she couldn't run away, her leg wasn't swollen or seemingly suffering from infection but it was clear that she was in pain. It had taken them hours to get back to the city and they had paused outside the gates wondering how to do the whole, introducing Mena to the world. She was currently asleep; Garrett was the one carrying her at the time. She had slept a lot since leaving the Deeproads, perhaps simply feeling safe meant that she was taking the opportunity to let her body rest.

'We'll take her to ma home, yes?' Merrill said as she brushed Mena's hair from her eyes. She was lightly drooling on Garrett's shoulder, her arms loosely hanging by her side. They had literally tied her to the warrior to stop her falling backwards.

Fenris took a cloak out of his pack, 'I would suggest putting this on her. It may provide some security,' he said simply handing it to Merrill. 'She is going to think that everyone is looking at her,' he said honestly, privately speaking from experience. Merrill nods and gently wraps it around her neck, pulling up the hood and making sure that it won't fall off.

'Fenris, Varric, you don't have to come with, I'll take Merrill and Mena home. I'll then go see mother and we'll meet at the Hanged man in a couple hours?' He inquired. Fenris nodded, seemed fine to him, it meant that he could finally wash and relax for a bit. They say their goodbyes and Garrett walks with Merrill towards the Alienage. 'Hey, Merrill... I just wanted to say thanks, for you know, coming with me to the Deep roads,' Garrett said quietly.

'Of course, I dinnae mind an' we found Mena. It was an interestin' journey an' you helped me when I first came ta the city,' she smiled brightly at him making his heart skip. The streets seemed a little quiet, it was late in the afternoon and almost like they had never left. The Alienage was cast in light greens as the setting sun shone through the leaves of the tree whose canopy covered most of the outside space. 'Nothin' has changed,' Merrill said looking around the square. It was comforting yet sad at the same time. They made their way over to her house and she unlocked the door. 'Thankfully I thought ahead an' made sure there were nae food inna house so the rats hopefully have moved on,' she said shyly and a little embarrassed.

Garrett chuckled, 'I'm sure it's fine, Merrill,' he assured as he walked into her front room. 'You gonna be okay with Mena?'

'Aye, I mean if ya wouldnae mind askin' Anders ta come over an' give her a look over, heal her leg so that she can move better. I'll um, clear off the top of my wardrobe an' it should be long enough fer her to sleep on,' she said looking at her home. 'An' I'll make sure ta lock the door once yer gone, so that um, she cannae sneak out. Fer now, jus' put her on the bed an' I'll 'ave to bring her to the Hanged Man fer dinner until I can get ta the market tomorrow,' Merrill makes plans.

Garrett has to wait for Merrill to untie the rope that kept Mena to him and carefully placed her on Merrill's bed, making sure she was covered with the blanket before walking back to her kitchen. 'I'm glad you didn't get too hurt in the Deep Roads, and I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that shit with Bartrand,' he said with a heavy sigh.

Merrill touched his arm and gave him a beaming smile. 'Hawke, dinnae worry about it. I'm glad you took me, I would 'ave just worried about ya otherwise,' she admitted.

Hawke smiled softly and leaned down to kiss her gently on the cheek making her cheeks flush pink. 'I'll send Anders to check on you both. Drop past the house when you're on your way to the Hanged Man,' he said giving her a rather chaste hug. Merrill sees him to the door and closes it with a rather flushed face as she bit her lip trying not to think about the man who made her heart flutter. Her distraction came easily enough as Mena woke up and promptly fell off the bed with a cry as she landed on her bad leg.

'Ah, lethallan!' Merrill said as she ran over to Mena who was crying with her hand over her mouth to stifle the noise, she didn't really understand why she was hurting as there was no wound. 'I'm here, I'm here,' she said as she helped Mena back onto the bed. The woman was sobbing quietly, having spent too many years learning to be silent so not to attract attention. 'Mena, our friend, remember friend? Falon?' Merrill explained as she stroked her hair. 'Our friend, Anders, he be coming here,' she said as she wiped the tears from Mena's cheeks. 'Here to help you. Anders, falon, he'll halani,' she said in a mixture of Dalish and common so that she would associate the words with each other.

Mena curled up as much as she could into Merrill's lap and laid her head on her thighs, everything was so confusing and the smells around them were different. The room was too open and it was almost cold. 'Mell?' Mena said quietly, it was what she called Merrill. 'Ar... I'm... sad,' she admitted as she held Merrill's tunic tightly.

'I know. I know,' she soothes as she begins to lightly sing a Dalish lullaby in hopes of calming her down and comforting her. Mena began to doze, holding her hand in her mouth sideways and gently sucking. It was something that they learned she did when she wanted to self soothe, they hadn't seen an issue with her doing it so they didn't try to change the habit. After about an hour of just sitting and relaxing Merrill heard a light knock on the door. Mena sat up and looked at Merrill with fear but she just patted her on the shoulder and went out the room to let Anders in.

Anders apologised for being so long as he entered her house. 'So, Hawke was saying that you found a woman down in the Deep roads? That she had possibly been there for years?' He asked shaking his head. 'I couldn't even imagine it. Are you sure?' He placed his work bag on the table and took off his cloak.

Merrill nodded, 'from what I managed to gather from her, aye. An' she nae been around people. I'll bring her out, she hurt her leg tryna help us, we think it be broken an' I'm hoping you can help,' she explained as she walked back into the bedroom. Mena had heard Anders' voice and had pulled Merrill's blanket over herself in order to hide. With some gentle coaxing Merrill convinced her to come into the kitchen, holding her for support.

At first glance Anders could definitely see the life she had lived written over her body. He tilted his head as he looked at her leg and then addressed Merrill. 'Honestly, I might have to do a full examination. Make sure she hasn't got any underlying health problems or unseen injuries. Do you think you'd be able to convince her to undress?' Merrill assured him that Mena didn't have any understanding when it came to modesty and it wouldn't be a problem. Mena didn't know what to make of the man that stood in front of her, her first instinct was to create distance but Merrill didn't seem tense or anxious at all. She was placed in a chair on a blanket and Merrill gently pulled her tunic over her head, it was cold but she simply wrapped her arms over her chest as she made sure not to take her eyes off this new stranger.

Anders kneeled down and tried to take her injured leg into his hands, Mena hissed and leaned forward smacking him heavily around the head. Merrill gasped and grabbed her arm. 'No! No, Mena! Banal!' She scolded. Mena looked at her and her eyes instantly welled up with tears as her lip quivered. 'Anders, falon!' Merrill added as her friend shook his hair out his eyes and raised a brow.

'Mell-'

'No, Mena. Banal. Dithera abelas,' Merrill said interrupting Mena.

Mena's tears dropped down onto her cheeks and she looked at Anders. 'Ir abelas, An-Anders,' she stuttered. Anders patted her slowly and gently on her good knee, Mena sniffs heavily wiping her nose with her arm and Merrill strokes her hair again. She jumps a little when Anders' hands light up in mana but Merrill holds her shoulders and hushes her lightly.

'Doesn't feel like a nasty break, more of a fracture than anything. A bad one but not as bad as a snap. Should heal perfectly fine,' he said conversationally as he healed her calf. Checking her feet, he repaired a few lacerations and inspected her toes carefully. He asks Merrill to help her stand, her leg would just be tender. Mena stands up shakily expecting pain but feeling nothing but a little tightness. Anders runs his hands over her stomach checking her internally for anything that might be a little off. After checking her heart and her spine his hands end up on her temples as he checks her eyes and mind.

'She okay?' Merrill asked, a little worried.

Anders looked into the pale blue of her irises as he heard the very light clicking she was making at the back of her throat. She didn't like what was going on but she was tolerating his presence. 'Honestly? She's fine. Pretty malnourished and sleep deprived, being in near darkness will have thrown off her body's natural sleep timer. Other than that, she's okay. I can't sense any taint in her from the darkspawn. Mentally, as Hawke said, she's a little behind but that's due to lack of teaching and natural maturity, not because there's any

issues.'

Merrill smiles and claps her hands making Mena beam as she didn't know what was going on but she had gathered it was positive. 'So, some proper food an' sleep, an' I can start teachin' her things an' take her outside?'

'Ah, I would... refrain for the moment on the whole going out thing. She's gonna get overwhelmed easily and you might just want to make sure that she's acclimatised before taking her out. Have people over and she might fall ill for a little while with the new diet. Also, if she gets a cold or fever, don't panic too much just have someone send for me.'

'Aye that makes sense,' Merrill nods as she helps Mena get redressed. 'Thank you, Anders.'

'Ma serannas, Anders,' Mena pipes up as she assumed that she had to say it as well. Merrill giggles and hugs Mena who was confused but happy with the attention.

He chuckled and went into his bag pulling out another smaller leather satchel. 'It's not much, some bread and fruit, a bit of cheese. It'll keep you both going until tomorrow. Hawke is going to come over with some more. Try to get her to eat a bit of everything, get some sleep and hydrate,' he smiled. 'Good luck,' he added as he nods at her and picks up his bag slinging it on his shoulders.

'Anders, falon? Friend?' Mena asked as she watched the strange man leave.

Merrill hugs her and nods. 'Aye, falon.'