It is midmorning when I wake up in the tavern bed. The morning sun burns my eyes along with creating a pounding headache. What did I drink last night? Is the only thing on my mind as I try to gather information about what happened last night. I know I didn't get so drunk that I blacked out, but I may have drunk a little too much. Figures the first time I really drink, I get drunk.

I shift in the bed about to sit up, my arms stretching above my head as I swing my legs over the bed. I look around to see if I can find Brali sleeping in the bed next to me, but she is nowhere to be seen. When I step down expecting the cold wooden floor, I instead step on something soft. The soft mass makes a sharp gasp of pain as my foot makes contact with its side. I glanced down to see Alistair sleeping on the floor, or at least he was sleeping on the floor until I stepped on him.

"Oh my God, Alistair?!" I let out a shout as my legs flew back up onto the bed.

I watch as he groans and sits up. He looks up at me on the bed, a tired confusion in his eyes. His voice is hoarse with sleep as he rubs his eyes, "Why did you step on me?"

"Why were you on the floor waiting to be stepped on?" I retorted. I can feel my eyebrows furrow together and a confused frown appear on my face. "Why are you on the floor?"

"Uh…" a sheepish look replaces the confusion and a small flush appears on his face. "You… uh… you drank a little too much."

I snort and grab my head as the headache picks back up. I let out a little groan and flop back on the bed, "I am very much aware of how much I drank last night."

I roll over onto my side and look at Alistair as he now sits on the floor looking at me. I can tell by his face that he has something he wants to say. So, I ask him gently, "What happened last night?"

"Well, you drank too much ale, got a little too happy, and…. Calledmeahandsomefool," he quickly says in the last part. A part of me understood what he said, but the ignorant part took over.

A deep flush appears on my face and I stutter out, "Wha… what was the last part?"

"You called me… a handsome fool."

My mind went blank, along with my face as I stared down at him. The flush is strong and I roll over onto my stomach. I grab the pillow and shove my face into it screaming. After the screaming subsides and I have Alistair now staring at me highly concerned. I turn back over onto my side and give him my best relaxed face possible, "So? I meant it."

His face gets a deep flush and he looks down at his crossed legs. A stupid grin paints his face as he lets out a small laugh, "Ah, did you?"

Keeping the no-so-cool look on my face, I nod slowly, "I did."

He looks up at me, that stupid satisfied grin still on his face, "Well, that's good to know. Is this the part where I return the compliment?"

"Only if you mean it," I reply, a stupid grin also appearing on my face.

"Oh, I do. I'll just wait to spring it on you when you least expect it."

The afternoon sun beats down on me as I look through the various shops. Some of the items had caught my eye, small trinkets such as bracelets and necklaces. The shopkeepers tried to convince me to buy them, trying to sweeten me up with honey filled words. Each time I'd give a sheepish smile to the shopkeeper and move onto the next. I have never been good with spending money on myself, this guilt of the money being saved for something more important. That's probably why I stay and listen to the shopkeeper as they try to convince me to buy the pretty light blue dress that I am currently admiring. Their saccharine words almost convince me to buy the dress. My fingers lightly tracing the light flower embroidery on the dress.

I have never been good at saying no. Another flaw of mine, I'm sure. I was once convinced at a mall to buy a hair straightener that could also curl my hair. At the moment I had felt good about the purchase, but as soon as my sister saw me with the person, embarrassment flooded me about how easily I was convinced to buy something. My family laughed at my easily convinced nature and tried to tell me to return the $80 purchase, but I was too embarrassed to do so.

This reminds me of that time. The shopkeeper telling me how beautiful the dress would look on me. That it'd bring out the blue in my eyes and how it'd compliment my skin. All of those pretty words just so they can get paid. My hand itches for the coin purse before a familiar Orleasian accent appears behind me, "Caerlion, I've been looking for you."
Immediately embarrassment fills me. How quickly I was about to spend coins on a dress that I may never be able to wear. I look over and the embarrassment must be clear on my face because Leliana looks over at the shopkeeper and the dress he is trying to convince me to buy, "Oh? That is a very pretty dress!"

I watch as Leliana coos over the dress and then looks over at me, "Caerlion, were you going to buy it?"

I can feel my eyebrows shoot up and my mouth drop a little bit, "Uh… I don't know? I was thinking about it?"

Leliana lets out a little excited squeal, "Oh, it would look just marvelous on you! I just know it!"

The pale redhead grabs the dress from the shopkeeper and holds it up to my body. Leliana, obviously enjoying this, has a bright expression on her face as she lets out another small excited squeal, "I knew it! Just darling!"

I flush as she puts all of her attention on now trying to convince me to buy the dress. I put my hands up, trying to explain that I won't be able to wear it, that it might not fit, or that we don't have the money. But each time an explanation comes out, Leliana hushes me and tells me to buy something pretty for myself, we'll figure out the rest. I give in and let out a sigh. I grab the coin purse hooked to the side of my leather belt and fork over the silver that the dress requires.

Soon, Leliana and I walk away from the shopkeeper with a newly bought dress. Some of the excitement has rubbed off on me from Leliana. A small smile on my face as I imagine how the dress might look on me. I fold the dress as carefully as possible to put in my pack and ask Leliana for some assistance putting it away. She rambles on and on about various different dresses and shoes that we might buy for me. I shake my head, "One dress is enough, Leliana."

"No!" She lets out a shout, "No, you need more dresses. You'd look so lovely in light colored dresses with lace. Maybe colors like a light blue or a green! And shoes! We need to find nice shoes to wear with the dress."

I laugh and look over at the enamored redhead, "Leliana! It's fine, I don't even really wear dresses."

She pouts a little bit, "But you'd look so dear, dressed up! We could even do your hair. Maybe a nice updo with some curls?"

Another laugh escapes me and I nudge her lightly, "Leliana, calm down!"

It was in the afternoon when Zevran approached me at the Gnawed Noble Tavern. We were waiting for Adalwin and the small group he took with him to get back from Brother Genitivi's house. While he was aware of the fact that Revas and I were not from Thedas, he seemed to not believe it, no matter how much we said. He seemed to like testing me especially. Asking questions about mundane things that I didn't know the answer to. This, in his mind, proved that I was lying.

As he approached the table where I was sitting with Morrigan, there was a sly grin on his face. The type of grin where you know you're going to catch someone in a deliciously made trap of your concoction. We look up at him as he leans his arms on the table.

"My dear, a question if you'll have it?" Zevran asks, the grin turning devilish as his brown eyes look Morrigan and me up and down.

No matter what I'll say, he will still ask the question. I let out a small sigh and motion for him to go ahead with the question he has.

"Good. Now if you truly know everything about us, what is something about me that I would never tell another person?" The face is still devilish. He waits for a moment as I stare at him.

I debate what I should say until a thought crosses my mind. I hesitate to say the answer because he could easily just kill me, but with Morrigan beside me, he would get burnt to a crisp before he could touch me. The name comes out as a whisper when I speak, "Rinna."

His face becomes deadly as the grin drops from his face. His eyes darken and he mutters out, "What?"

"The real reason you took the hit on us," I continued quietly, trying to draw too much attention to us. I can see that the rest of the group has started paying attention when seeing Zevran's thunderous expression.

He scoffs and pushes himself off the table, "Bah! You have no idea what you're talking about."
"You wanted to die."

His face freezes and he looks at me closely. I can see the conflict in his eyes as he thinks over what I say. The vulnerable look on his face disappears as a mask of coolness takes over. He flicks his hand over his shoulder as if waving away what I just said. He turns and walks away without another word.

I can't tell if he still believes that I am lying. All I know is that now I might need to sleep with one eye open. Morrigan tsks, "Twas a foolish thing to do."

I simply waved her off and continued eating my stew. Nervous feelings flitter about my body as I think if I messed up by actually starting off with the one thing he refuses to tell you until near the end of the game. My heart begins to race slightly, but I shake my head at the passing thoughts. I tell myself that those are worries for tomorrow and we need to focus on more pressing issues such as getting to the Urn.

It was thirty minutes later when Adalwin, Alistair, Leliana and Wynne returned from Brother Genitivi's house. They had tried to clean themselves of the blood as best as possible after killing the fake Waylon. Morrigan had left my table soon after my discussion with Zevran. Brali had taken her place asking what had happened with Zevran and I.

Soon after I finished explaining what happened, that is when the rest of our group had walked in. I watch as Alistair's face brightens seeing us, but soon darkens as his eyes travel above my head. Confused, I look behind us to see Revas standing behind us waiting to say something.

Just as quickly as I look at him, I turn back around a sour look on my face. I hear him clear his throat, but I continue to ignore him. He has never apologized about Redcliffe, instead defending his decision saying that he couldn't rely on us to get back in time. His defense was that this was not a game, but if they had only waited a few more moments. A few more moments and we would have arrived with the mages. It was embarrassing and difficult having to lie to Irving and say that the child was slaughtered. My voice was hoarse from all the yelling I had done and I had dried tears on my cheeks. He said he understood and squeezed my shoulders before leaving with the mages.

That was then, now. Now, I have resigned to never speak to him unless he were to apologize for what he had done. Not that he would apologize, he's kind of an ass like that.

I can hear his voice as I focus on stirring what is left of my stew. The words he spoke were terse, "You told Zevran?"

I ignore him and take a small bite of my stew before realizing that I have completely lost my appetite. I push the stew away and stare straight ahead. Again, very well practiced in doing the silent treatment. He sighs frustrated and moves to stand in front of the table, trying to catch my eyes, "Fenedhis, will you listen to me?"

This causes me to glare up at him. My mouth is puckered like I had been sucking on a lemon. My voice is harsh as a single word escapes me, "No."

I move out of my seat and ignore Revas' swearing behind me. A huff of frustration escapes me as I make way into the tavern room that I had been staying in. The door slamming behind me, I began packing my stuff away as it was agreed that we would leave Denerim to head to Haven after the fake Waylon had been dealt with. I mutter under my breath, "Stupid… fucking… asshole!"

"'Tis a good thing there are no fires in here, yes?" I hear Morrigan's voice behind me.

"I guess so," I bark out, my frustrations being put into the way of how I am packing. Harshly throwing things into my pack. I stop packing and put my hands on my face while I take deep breaths.

"I do not understand why you let him vex you so," Morrigan states, coming into the room to stand next to me.

A frustrated sigh escapes, "He "vexes me so" because he's an asshole who doesn't know how to play nice with others."

"He made the smartest decision," Morrigan replies, a frustrated sigh also escaping her.

I whip around, "It was not the smartest decision. We were there when he went ahead with the blood ritual. That is stupid, not smart."

"He was unsure when you would arrive back and we did not know how long we might have had until the demon struck again," Morrigan begins to explain before I interrupt her.

"He did not need to wait much longer. You had just started the ritual when we arrived, right?"
She nods, her face twisted in a frustrated scrunch, "Yes, but-"

I snapped quickly, "Then explain to me how not waiting at least two minutes was the smartest decision."

I sigh and straighten myself, trying to let anger flow through me and not lash out on those that did not deserve it, "Morrigan, you are not the reason I am upset. I get it, you agreed with his decision, but I don't."

She gives a sharp nod, the scrunch still on her face. She looks over her shoulder as she turns to leave, "You said it yourself, 'tis real life now, not a game."

I turn to look at her. I know she is right about this being real life and not a game. I came to terms with that about three months ago. From my understanding, however, demons and the undead weren't even attacking the group left behind in Redcliffe. I would have understood afterwards if they had still been attacked, but they hadn't. They had sat peacefully for a day and a half waiting for us to come back. It's just that Revas got impatient and wanted to finish the problem now. How do I know this? He said so. Revas told us after we got back to camp that he was just tired of waiting. Hence the frustration that Alistair and I both have with him. He refuses to apologize and we refuse to budge on talking to him.

Although, part of me is getting tired of this back and forth game that Revas and I have going on. He won't listen to me and I can't trust him enough to follow the plan. The frustration of working with someone who won't listen to you wears you down. I have to now double guess what is going to actually happen when it comes down to any plans that we create. Even with getting to leave the camp for the first time in weeks, I doubted that he would actually let me go. I honestly thought he would have struck me across the head before letting me leave. But that didn't happen and I got to leave camp.

None of this matters though, as I put the last of my equipment into my pack. We need to leave Denerim to get to Haven. I throw my pack over my shoulder and head down the tavern stairs. I waited for the others to finish packing before leaving the tavern.

As we head towards the gates of Denerim, I take one last look around the marketplace. The scents of flowers, spices, and herbs mix together to create an aroma unique to Denerim itself. The loud bustling of people moving and talking and shouting for others to come look at their wares. It was nice to be within the city. I know we'll be back soon enough, but it feels like it will be forever before we are back in a bustling city like this.

Dusk hit just before we finished setting up camp. I had noticed a while back as we left Denerim that there was a merchant following us from behind. From a distance I could tell that he had reddish brown hair and a long face, but other than that I had little to no recognition of who the man was. It wasn't until camp was finally set up and he approached us as we sat around the campfire eating.

"Excuse me? Grey Warden?" the nervous voice of the merchant called out. His pale skin had a warm tone due to the roaring campfire I had lit earlier. Five pairs of eyes traveled over to the man. His eyes widened obviously not expecting so many to be looking at him. He stutters out, "Oh… uh…"

This is when I recognize him. Levi Dryden. Here to ask us to assist in finding out what happened to his ancestor Sophia Dryden. Of course Soldier's Peak is chock full of demons, but it's nothing we haven't faced before. I put down the roasted ram stew (stew as always) and said, "Levi, right?"

Levi looked confused, probably wondering how I knew his name, but nodded nonetheless. I alleviate his confusion with a simple lie as an explanation, "Duncan told us about his promise to you."

He lets out a quiet, "Ah." before looking around at the rest of the Wardens who are now looking at me. He turns his brown eyes back towards me and asks, "So you'll help me then?"

"We will."

Watch was boring tonight as I walk around the wooded area. Or at least it was boring until I heard twigs snapping behind me. Unease sits in my stomach as I grab my staff and hold it out, my eyes roaming around the heavily wooded forest. I see nothing but shadows dancing in between the trees.

As I go to move forward, another twig snaps behind me and I shoot a firebolt at the offender following me. The figure dodges quickly and throws their weapons to the ground as a showing of their intention to not harm me. Once the figure steps into the moonlight, my heart drops to my stomach. The person has tanned skin and black hair tied back in a ponytail with a matching dark beard. Deep brown eyes look over me with a sense of trepidation. Lips curl up in a hesitant smile. The armor, which was once blue and had white steel, was now leather and ripped slightly.

Shit.

"Duncan?"