Chapter Three

One step at a time.

"Ow…" Cillian grumbled as she rubbed her hip, having hit the ground harder than she thought. She didn't have as much… cushion there as she used to, so bone met wood floor. Safe to say, the wood floor didn't budge. Gripping the bed, the redheaded woman began to pull herself back up. "Come on. It's standing, how hard is it supposed to be." The limbs that were supposed to be legs felt like jelly.

Practically out of breath as she managed to get herself halfway on the bed, the door swung open before a gasp escaped Anna. "Keira! What are you doing?" The plate in her hands was quickly set aside as the dark-haired beauty quickly made her way to her side, helping her fully back on the bed. "You're still weak! My healing can only do so much." She scolded, though her tone never raised. She really was angelic.

"I am sorry.." Cillian offered, still catching her breath. "Things are still a tad…fuzzy. Not all my memories are there." She added, building a shield in case something popped up that she won't know. Not like that would really be possible if this dream was to go according to how she wrote things, but she's read stories like this before. Alter certain decisions, and the future will change. "But…" the elf continued, "where exactly are we? Where are we going?" If she could figure out exactly where she was, she could figure out where she was dropped.

"We are about a week's ride outside of Redcliffe, Hughes' nephew, Ser Perth, is a knight there. If I could tell him what happened, he could get us an audience with Arl Eamon." Anna said with a sigh of grief. The grief she felt for losing her family and home weighed on her shoulders. In that moment, Cillian felt… bad for giving this character such a tragic memory. Arl Eamon was the only person outside the Cousland family that Ser Vanguard actually trusted, having instilled that into his children. If anything happened, find Teryn Cousland or Arl Eamon. But she knew at this point, it was unaware to their family what was going to happen, if not already, to Arl Eamon. It was such a key factor in this story, but she also couldn't help the guilt that settled in her stomach either. But, this had to happen, it HAD TO. She needed to follow along with the story as much as she could to get the exact path she was needing for her story. Might as well ride this dream out for all it was worth, right? Who knew when she would wake up, she just hoped it wasn't before where she left off.

"I see…" Cillian muttered, her red brows furrowing for a moment as she recalled the chilling scene she had typed for Anna's father. Dream or not, she caused this fate for the young woman, she had to take care of her. "How long will we stay here, Milady?" The elf asked while adjusting herself with what strength she had left. She couldn't recall having ever felt this weak before. Anna still hadn't mentioned what made Keira like this, so she would have to be careful in making sure that she didn't reveal what she already knew. Thanks to her many playthroughs and deep delves into the series on so many occasions she had, so she hoped, a decent understanding of this world and its culture. The most difficult part would be handling first-hand the…plight…elves often had to go through as well as the people she would have to deal with. Cillian hated dealing with people, but this being a no technology time and place… there went her way of hiding.

A small 'hmph' escaped Anna at the term 'milady'. She despised it, especially if Keira slipped up and called her such. With her dear friend's memory being spotty as it is, she supposed the slip up could happen. It made her heart hurt for her even more. "Just call me Anna, Keira. Especially now. All I have are you and Hughes, and I already have to deal with that stubborn man calling me such." Anna's beautiful porcelain cheeks puffed out slightly with her pout. Blue eyes begging for Keira to listen.

"Alright, I will…try." Cillian offered a small smile, unable to help find Anna absolutely adorable. Most likely because the young woman was of her own creation, but she was having a hard time to even think about telling the young woman no. She was absolutely precious.

"Good! Now, you need to eat." Anna declared before glancing Cilllian, or rather Keira over, to make sure she was settled back in the bed. "We will be staying here for another day, long enough for you to regain some of your strength before we continue. Hughes is right outside, he said he will go hunting later for dinner." Walking over to the plate she had hastily set aside to go to Cillian's aid. She really needed to give this angelic creature a beautiful story once she woke up. She just lost her family, her home, everything she had known… but was sitting here taking care of her. Accepting the plate, Cillian looked down at the bread and jam. "You need something easy on your stomach for how long you have been out." Anna added, motioning for her to eat. The woman seemed like she wasn't going to budge until she watched the redheaded elf eat something.

"Is it safe for us to be here this long?" Cillian asked before beginning to eat. The jam was a bit… bland, but substantial. She suddenly missed the jams she had created that previous spring. No doubt the herbs she would need to spice this up existed somewhere in Ferelden! Might as well have one thing she knew had to do be of service while she was here other than what she knew of this world. No doubt they would deem her a witch if she went around talking about events that would happen, the last thing she needed was to be taken to God knows whereby the Chantry for questioning. Especially since Keira was not born a mage like Anna. Afraid that he would lose his only child, Lord Vanguard did everything he could to hide the fact that she was born as such. Even hiring Apostates who were avoiding the Circle of Magi to help her subdue her abilities. Thankfully, Anna didn't show signs of any other magic than healing, which made hiding easier. But, it also meant that she always wanted to help those in need with her found abilities. Having to pull her away from situations was hard on both Keira and Anna, knowing that the noble woman had the ability to really help. But instead, they had to learn how to help in another way by volunteering in the clinics to help bandage and take care of the minor sick ones.

"Hughes says it is, it hadn't looked like anyone has been here for quite some time. It is well out of the way of the main road and hidden by a rather large group of trees. We happened upon it completely by chance." Anna beamed pouring more water into Cillian's cup. "I understand about not feeling safe here, or anywhere as a matter of fact. But I know we will be once we reach Arl Eamon. He will protect us. I just know it." It was all Anna had at this moment to believe in, it was what made her rise in the morning and push through the long day of travel.

An unsettling feeling settled deep in Cillian's stomach, faint, but made itself known. One that told her that Anna's smile was a plastered one, it must be one that Keira knew well. Behind it, was grief and fear. Worry, and who knew what other emotion. Her blue eyes didn't sparkle with the innocence that they once held. But hell, who would? Fuck, Nerian must be going through the same whirlwind of emotions that Anna was. No doubt he was now in Ostagar, having just become a Grey Warden and going to have to deal with another blow with Duncan and the King's death within this time frame.

Reaching over, Cillian took Anna's hand in her own. "We will make it there, and we will be safe. Hughes knows the way like the back of his hand for how much he has had to travel. Arl Howe will get the justice he deserves." Later than you would like. But he would get it, at the hands of Nerian Cousland. It was always such a satisfying feeling to kill that bastard in the game, no matter who her main character was. He deserved every arrow, magic pulse, or stab that was given to him. It also reminded her of how frustrated she would get at Nathaniel until he had the talk with his sister about what all his father had done during the Awakening game.

"I hope so.." Anna whispered, looking down at their intertwined hands. "I have never wanted anyone dead before, Keira. But I want him to suffer just as he made so many." There was that anger, the anger that would push both Nerian and Anna together. "Keep that anger." Cillian said after a moment. "But don't let it control what you do. Use it to push you forward Anna, to make each step and show that the Vanguard line didn't end. You can still leave your mark on this world." Those words came flying out of her mouth before she even realized it, but there was truth to it. Anger was the fuel to much in this world, but if you let it control you, you would become the very monster that deserves that anger.

Nodding, Anna quickly reached up to dab her eyes, soaking up any tears that were threatening to escape. "Thanks Keira… I really would be lost if you weren't here with me. Now, eat up and rest. You will need all your energy for tomorrow." That cute smile was on her face once more, covering the real emotions that were tearing through the onyx haired beauty. Once again, Cillian couldn't help but feel horrible for the start she had given Anna in this world. During this whole dream, she needed to make things as easy for her as she could. At this point, story be damned!