We once again find ourselves back on a boat, this time back to Redcliffe Castle. I rest my arms on the wooden sides of the boats and watch as the waves of Lake Calenhad gently lap against the sides. The midday sun shines brightly, allowing some warmth to seep in my bones from the cold morning sun. The journey back has been relatively peaceful compared to the last time I was on this boat. There was this feeling of urgency of needing to show the others' that I was right and that I was not completely mental. Now though? Now there was no urgency, there was no need, there was just peace. Peace of knowing that at least some things will have been revolved, which can knock some items off my mental list.

I let out a breath and I begin to reply before I hear Leliana shout, "Caerlion!We're back at Redcliffe."

The castle was quiet other than the few guards patrolling outside. I see Brali sitting on the top of the stairs, obviously waiting for us. Her green eyes look shocked at seeing Irving and a group of mages following behind us. She stands on the top of the stairs and meets us halfway up the stairs. She looks behind and motions for the mages to head into the castle. Once we are alone she looks at me with a conflicted look, "I don't know if I should be scared or excited that you were right."

I tilt my head to the side, "Why would you be scared?"

"We were completely prepared for what happened inside of the castle. Nothing was a shock and we were barely injured. Even the bann was surprised at our efficiency once he was knocked out of the demon's control."

Alistair pipes up behind me, "That should be a good thing, no?"

Brali shakes her head, her red hair moving with it, "It should be, but it means I doubted Caerlion unfairly." This causes her to look at me with a remorseful look, "Which means I have to apologize."

I wave her off, "Oh, please. If someone told me they were from another world, I would think they were crazy too. No harm, no foul."

Brali shakes her head, her red hair moving with it, "It should be, but it means I doubted Caerlion unfairly." This causes her to look at me with a remorseful look, "Which means I have to apologize."

I wave her off, "Oh, please. If someone told me they were from another world, I would think they were crazy too. No harm, no foul."

She nods and holds out her hand as if it were a peace offering. I shake her hand with a smile on my face and begin the rest of the walk up the stairs. She has a nervous look in her eye as she goes to open her mouth, "There's something else I need to tell you…"

Once inside the castle, I can see Isolde's dead body on the floor, blood surrounding her, along with Morrigan's as Jowan performs his blood ritual. I notice Revas off to the side of the room watching Morrigan's body intently. I could almost see the worry in his eyes when he made eye contact with me before it disappeared.

An indescribable rage takes over me as I begin to scream, "Are you fucking kidding me!?"

Revas' tan face flushes with annoyance as I stomp my way over to him, he tries to reason with me, "Listen, Caerlion."
I slap him with all the might in my body. I can see red as I let the rage consume my very body, "The plan was to wait for the mages! Did you even wait?"

I feel arms wrap around me as I'm pulled back from Revas. Yet, I continue to scream, "You just have to think you're right all the time, don't you!? You're a fucking asshole, Revas! What the hell am I supposed to tell the mages, huh? Hope you enjoyed the day trip, back to the tower you go!?"

Revas sits there with a handprint of his face and a twisted expression. He listens to me as I berate him over and over and over again. I scream, yell, and cry until I'm hoarse. Exhaustion replaces the rage as I cry. One thing was supposed to go right and it didn't because of some asshole who didn't listen to me. When Morrigan wakes, she looks surprised to find Alistair and Brali comforting me while Revas stands in the corner with a forming bruise. She can barely get the words out before another sob leaves me.

"It is done, the demon is dead."

Teagan stands at the foot of the bed watching as Eamon lays there almost frozen in time. Brali and I stand closest to the bed, Brali is focused on Eamon while I watch as Connor runs between the various bookshelves. Adalwin and Revas are standing closest to the doors watching as Isolde and Teagan speak quietly amongst themselves. Alistair stands on the other side of the bed and has a serious expression as he looks at the man he hasn't seen in years. Teagan's hands rub his face as he lets out a shaky sigh, "So it is over." He looks at all of us, before turning his eyes to Connor, "Connor is back to his old self. It seems he does not remember anything, which is a blessing."
His face becomes downturned, "I suppose this means that we will have to send him to the tower when this is all over."

I think of Isolde and can almost see the protest in her once alive eyes. Perhaps the reason she pushed so hard for the blood ritual was about how this all started with her. I don't blame her, she did what any mother in that position might have done. My mother, if we had existed in this world, might have done the same thing if put in Isolde's position.

Teagan continues to speak, "It is odd to think of the boy as a mage, but I suppose it must be this way for a reason. My brother will have much to mourn and rebuild when he recovers. At least he can be thankful that his son still lives." Teagan shakes his head, still saddened by what happened with Isolde, "Our task is not done yet, we must find a way to heal my brother."

Teagan all of a sudden perks up, "The Urn of Sacred Ashes! It is the way to heal Eamon, I know it."

I step in, "If it is a lead, then we should take it, no?"

Teagan sighs tiredly, he is the one to speak, "If you think it might help, Brother Geneitivi was last in Denerim. I'd suggest you start your search there."

It had been a few days since curing Connor and losing Idolde. Our group had been running around Ferelden collecting money through the Chantry postings in the village. I hadn't been allowed to come on recent missions due to… personal reasons. Instead, I had been resigned to stick in camp and assist in making food, to which I'm probably going to be vetoed soon due to my poor cooking skills.

Alistair and I have also stopped speaking for the moment with Revas. He too was overcome with emotion once he realized what had happened. The only difference was he had waited until camp to begin yelling. Listening to the verbal match between the two warriors was slight retribution on my part because Alistair would just not listen to Revas' explanation. Revas had tried to speak to me, but I walked away anytime he got near, Bean growling at the elf.

Sitting outside of the camp, I was on watch along with Alistiar. Alistair had stuck to one side of the camp while I explored just out of there. I was standing listening to the night birds chirp and crickets. The cool evening wind was blowing my hair away from my face. I close my eyes and let the moon shine on my face. I hear footsteps come up from behind me, twigs breaking underneath leather boots and a body comes to stand beside. I don't have to look to know it's Alistiar, I've begun to learn his footsteps pretty well by now. He leans on the tree beside me and stares out into the night sky.

"So, I've been thinking," he says. I can feel his eyes staring into the side of my head. Not burning, more like a gentle warmth. Like the sun. His eyes remind me of the sun, bright and full of light. It's nice.

My reply is light and floats in the evening breeze, "That's dangerous."

Alistair's laugh is best described as hearty. It comes from the gut when it's real and he laughs with all his heart put into it. His response is full of that laughter, "I know, but don't worry, I didn't hurt myself too much."

I freeze as I realize all the sentimental things that I've been thinking. I can feel my face flush and my heart begin to race lightly. I know I probably sound ridiculous, but he is a wonderful man. And I know I have feelings for him. These feelings started off as a sort of girlish infatuation, like meeting a celebrity crush, but now… now they've grown. It's no longer admiring the man I thought he was, but the man he actually is. The man who plays an idiot to make life easier for everyone else but is actually incredibly intelligent, and cracks jokes to diffuse difficult situations. I am reminded of a night where we stayed up having theoretical debates about how darkspawn were created. It was thrilling and everything I've ever wanted. Someone who wouldn't shy away from debating with me or just agreeing with me to make it easier for themselves. But someone who would debate back and challenge my thoughts.

I realize I've been quiet too long and glance over at him. I try to school the flushed look on my face and give him an even response, "What were you thinking about?"

I see him look down at something he is thumbing. A rose… Oh. The rose. It is a bit dried up around the edges, but still beautiful. It has somehow maintained its deep red look and full appearance even though it has been plucked and away from water for days now. He glances up at me, "I'm sure you probably already know what this is."

My mind is blank and I'm sure the cool expression I was trying to maintain has faded into one of suppressed adoration. I open and close my mouth for a few moments before managing to stutter out, "I honestly have no idea… I mean I do know, but… what is it to you?"

"I… I don't know," He shrugs, his eyes traveling down back to the rose. I can tell he is struggling with some internal conflict in his head. Maybe it is about what he wants to say and what he can't. He hesitates, "I wanted to give it to you… because when I look at it, I think of you. Something rare and beautiful. I just never thought how true that meant."

"Never imagined I was from a different world?"

He snorts and shakes his head, "Maker, that was the last thing on my mind." His gaze turns towards me and he holds the rose out to me, "Here, it's yours."

I gently take the rose and twirl it between my fingers. I can feel my mind and heart racing a million miles a minute. As Alistair turns to leave, I grasp his arm to keep him in place, "What does this mean, Alistair?"

"Whatever you want it to mean, Caerlion," He responds gently. His eyes travel over my face and he steps a hair closer to me.

I feel my voice come out as a whisper as I look up into his eyes, "And if I want it to mean more?"

He steps closer to me again, his voice just as low, "Then it means more."

The want to kiss him becomes strong. I feel it growing in the air, but… I don't want to push anything further. The fear of breaking what fragile trust I have regained from Alistair is the only thing in my mind other than wanting to kiss him.

It is quiet as we stare at each other, both wanting to move forward but both being too scared to. It seems as if the moment will never end before we are interrupted by the rustling in the woods. We step apart as Leliana and Brali make their way through the parted trees, obviously looking for us. Knowing they are here to relieve us of watch, I bid everyone a goodnight and head to my tent. As I undress to go to sleep, I replay the moment over and over in my head until I am completely red. It takes a minute before I allow myself to rest, too giddy from the moment of what just happened. Before I close my eyes and head off into a dream filled sleep, the worries and excitement of what tomorrow might bring cross my mind. This is the first time I might have ever been excited to wake up and not wonder if I'll be killed tomorrow.

Redcliffe Castle seems far from my mind now.