The camp was unusually silent as Linn prepared herself to speak. She peeked over at Alistair guiltily. Alistair gripped his sword's sheath and looked at the ground. After Linn had arrived back at Redcliffe, she had told Alistair, Morrigan, and Wynne that she needed to tell them something important, and Alistair had seemed unusually quiet ever since. The others watched her as she paced slowly, trying to gather her thoughts.
"So… um… how do I say this?" Linn muttered furiously to herself before she took a deep breath. "There's no gentle way to ease you into this, so I'm just going to say it. I'm not from Fereldan… or really anywhere in this world."
The others stared at her with looks of confusion. Sten's brow furrowed as though he expected her to be joking, but she gave him a helpless shrug in return.
"If you are not from this world, then where do you come from?" Sten asked warily as though still expecting some kind of prank.
"A different one, I guess… I'm not trying to be funny. It's just kind of hard to describe. It's a different plane of existence. It's just… different."
"Is that why your magic is so strange?" Morrigan asked with a calculating look.
"Yes… But that's not why I'm telling you this," Linn said and glanced at Alistair, who looked more confused than ever. "I'm telling you this because I will eventually need to go home. That's why I'm doing what I can to assist with the treaties. That way you can fight against the Archdemon and the Blight when I'm gone..."
Alistair's eyes found hers, and her words died in her throat. He looked so lost, but strangely enough… he didn't look surprised. Linn checked on the others to gauge their reactions. Morrigan looked thoughtful. Clearly, she was brewing with questions about magic from another world. Wynne on the other hand seemed deep in thought.
"I suppose… strangely enough, that makes sense," Sten said thoughtfully and was met with confused looks. "Your calling isn't being a Grey Warden. Who are you then? What is your purpose?"
Linn took a deep breath and explained, "Well, it's kind of similar… in a way. I'm a monster hunter." The others gave her confused looks as though they were trying to work out the difference. "Basically… in my world, there are creatures that kill or eat humans. 'Saving people, hunting things.' We find the monsters and make sure they can't hurt anyone else."
"'We'?" Leliana asked with a tilted eyebrow.
"It's a… family business. Anyways… I came to this world to learn more about controlling my magic, and when Duncan came to the Tower, I saw an opportunity to escape."
"So why have you not done so?" Morrigan asked irritably. "You have had so many chances to flee. Why stay?"
Linn peeked a glance toward Alistair to see him tightly gripping his sword's handle and looking at the ground as though afraid to look up.
"I… After what happened at Ostagar… I know how it feels to lose everything you have," Linn said with a glance back at the group. "People in my world rarely choose to go out and fight monsters. Most hunters do our job because the life we had, the people we loved… they were taken from us. I just… When I do leave, it won't be before I give you everything I can. That's why we need to use these treaties. Getting Arl Eamon's men and the Dalish and the Dwarves on board is what we need… Not just one lone mage."
"Then who will lead when you leave?" Sten asked, surprising Linn.
"Well…" Linn glanced back at Alistair to see him finally looking at her. They locked eyes for a moment before he quickly turned his gaze back at the ground. "I hadn't really thought about that to be honest. I'm kind of just making it up as I go. There's not exactly a guide for this kind of thing."
"I believe that it just wants to abandon us," Shale accused.
"And yet here I am," Linn retorted. "If I wanted to, I could leave at any time… Granted, the Tower would have been slightly more difficult with all of the prying eyes, but I could have left. But I give you my word: I, Ashlinn Singer, promise to help you with the Blight until you at least have a chance against defeating the Archdemon. Is that good enough?"
There was muttering among the group, but the overall consensus was that it was good enough for now. Linn turned back to Alistair to find his seat empty. As the group began to talk amongst themselves, Linn quickly slipped away. The sound of something hitting the water drew her attention, and she crept toward the sound.
Alistair sat at the edge of a pond. He thoughtfully moved a rock between his fingers before throwing it at the water. After a few skips on the surface, the rock disappeared under the water. Linn considered going back to camp when Alistair suddenly looked her way. Caught like a deer in the headlights, Linn greeted him with a small wave.
"Just wanted to check on you. I can leave if–"
"No!" Alistair said quickly before he noticed how panicked he sounded.
As Alistair looked away from her to focus on another stone, Linn walked over and took a seat on the bank beside him. The sun was still in the sky. Unusual for their group as they tended to make the best out of the daylight for travel, but one more day of rest wouldn't kill them.
"I…" Alistair started, but he seemed to be having trouble finding the right words. Linn kept quiet as he continued, "I knew you were different… not in a bad way. I just– You– Oh, Maker! What am I even saying?"
Linn put a hand on his shoulder and reassured him, "I get it. A part of you knew that I wouldn't be sticking around for long, right?"
Alistair nodded before he looked back at the lake. "You always seemed to be watching everything with… I don't know. Wariness, maybe? No, it was more like… You were detached from everything. I thought that it was because of the Circle, but… after going to the Tower, I realized that was wrong. Even there, there was some kind of wall between you and the others. Like you didn't belong there. I guess I got my answer."
"And what do you think about it?"
"I… I don't know. Confused… Why did you go through with the Joining if you could have escaped?"
Linn shifted uncomfortably. She had told them about coming from another world, but the Mark… That was different.
"I didn't know what the 'Joining' was until it was too late. By then, I had seen first-hand what happens to people who try to back out," Linn replied with a glance at Alistair. He seemed to have bought what she was saying. "And then Ostagar happened… And I didn't want to leave you alone."
Alistair looked at her with those sad brown eyes filled with confusion and hope.
"I… I wanted to make sure that you have all the tools available when I go," Linn finished before looking at the glistening water.
"Is that why you forgave an assassin and brought along a sentient pile of murderous rocks? So I'd have… 'tools.'"
"Easy there, royal bastard," Linn said playfully with a wag of her finger. "I may have a soft spot for you, but they don't. However, Zevran, Sten, Leliana, and even Morrigan… they know what will happen if the Archdemon isn't stopped."
Alistair gave her a small smile and asked, "So where to next?"
"Well, I was thinking of heading to the Brecilian Forest… Since a group of the Dalish were sighted in the area. Next we'll head for Denerim. That scholar 'Gentivi' or something. He was looking into the ashes. After that, we'll head back to the Tower for Dagna, and then hopefully the Dwarves will have settled on a king by the time we get to Orzammer. I feel tired just thinking about it."
Alistair nodded in tired agreement before he said hesitantly, "You know… maybe this isn't the best time to be thinking about this, but I've got something to ask you. When we're in Denerim, I wonder if we might be able to… look someone up. I'm not talking about a friend, exactly. And, no, it's not that sort of friend, either." Alistair gave her a tired look at her raised eyebrow. Linn let out a small laugh, and Alistair continued, "The thing is, I have a sister. A half-sister. I told you about my mother, right? She was a servant at Redcliffe Castle, and she had a daughter… only I never knew about her. I don't think she knew about me, either. They kept my birth a secret, after all. But after I became a Grey Warden I did some checking and… well, I found out she's still alive. In Denerim."
"Oh, wow. That's… great!" Linn replied, feeling as though a weight was lifted. While they hadn't known each other for very long, she knew that Duncan's death had hit him hard. If he had family to rely on, she'd feel much better about leaving. Besides… she remembered the demon keeping Alistair captive had taken on the form of a "sister". Clearly, this was something he had thought about for quite some time.
Alistair gave her a small smile and continued, "She's the only real family I have left, the only family not also mixed up in the whole royal thing. I've been thinking that… maybe it's time I went to see her. With the Blight coming and everything, I don't know if I'll ever get another chance to see her. Maybe I can help her, warn her about the danger, I don't know."
"That's a good idea," Linn reassured him. "We should at least let her know about the darkspawn. Loghain has been too focused on us… I doubt he's prepared for them."
"Could we?" Alistair asked and looked at her with those big brown eyes.
"Of course, Alistair," Linn replied, and Alistair's shoulders relaxed as he gave her a big, goofy grin.
"I'd appreciate that. If something happened to her and I never went to at least see her, I don't know if I could forgive myself," Alistair muttered the last part before his voice became more upbeat as though trying to cheer himself up. "Her name is Goldanna and I think she remarried but still lives just outside the Alienage. If we're in the area, then… well, it's worth a look."
"Ah, there you are," Zevran's voice came from the shadows, and Linn watched as Alistair's grin instantly disappeared.
"Yes, Zevran? Did you need something?" Linn asked while turning to look at Zevran with tired eyes.
"Yes, in fact. Could I speak with you alone? I have something I wish to discuss," Zevran asked with a look at Alistair.
"Ask now," Alistair replied with an edge to his tone. "I don't exactly feel like it's a good idea for her to be alone with a man who tried to kill her."
"That's in the past," Zevran replied nonchalantly with a wave of his hand. "It's… personal."
Alistair had his hand on his sword's grip, but Linn placed her hand over his.
"It's okay, Alistair. If he wanted me dead, then he had a chance at Honnleath," Linn assured Alistair gently. "I might as well see what he wants."
Linn started to get up when Alistair touched her arm.
"No… I'll go back to camp. I'd prefer if you stay close enough for us to hear you if…" Alistair trailed off, but his eyes told Zevran the rest.
"I solemnly swear that I will do our leader no harm," Zevran promised with a hand over his heart.
Alistair gave him a glare but got onto his feet. With one last warning look, Alistair began his trek back to camp. Zevran quickly took his place and gave Linn his most dazzling smile.
"Do you actually have something to ask me or were you just trying to interrupt?"
"Why not both?" Zevran asked with a smirk. "But I do, in fact, have a question."
"A 'personal' one?" Linn retorted in a disbelieving tone.
"In a manner of speaking… I wanted to know what you plan to do with me when this is all over."
Linn raised an eyebrow and asked, "What I plan to do with you? As soon as we have the treaties and take down Loghain, you're free to do what you want. I'll be gone, so… your deal with me will be over."
Linn had expected him to be relieved, but Zevran stared at her in confusion.
"I just find it difficult to believe…"
Linn watched him quietly as his nonchalant, confident demeanor crumbled just a small bit. From what Zevran had told her, he had been with the Crows most of his life. While he had been treated as little more than a tool to make money, he had likely found some reassurance in the transactional nature of the assassin's guild.
"Zevran, we had a deal," Linn reassured him. "Besides… it's not like I would just drag you off to my world." Linn let out a little laugh to let him know that she was joking. "We don't even have elves in my world. You'd stick out like a sore thumb."
"No elves?" Zevran asked with surprise. "Only humans and monsters? How… interesting."
"Well… there are the fairies, but I prefer to not get entangled with them. They tend to make things… more complicated. Oh, hey… I just noticed something. It's really quite unfair."
"What?" Zevran asked with suspicion.
"I've told you about my world, but I don't really know much about you. You told me a little about your mother and the brothel, but… she was Dalish, right?"
Zevran's eyes softened as he spoke more about his mother. He slowly became more relaxed as she sat and listened. Linn couldn't help but give him a small, genuine smile as he talked about his mother. Despite his flippancy, it was clear that he cared about her very deeply. Just like how she cared about her family.
A small stab of guilt cut through her as she thought about Bobby and the boys. She wondered if they were okay. Ellen would take care of Bobby, but what about Dean? Was he involved in a giant mess like she was? Would Sam and Andy be able to help him when he was?
Zevran gave her a curious look, and she apologized, "Sorry… You talking about your family made me think of my own… I think we should get back to the others."
Zevran seemed disappointed but reluctantly agreed. Linn got back onto her feet and led the way back to camp. As much as she missed her idgits, she couldn't go back just yet; she wasn't exactly safe to be around just yet. Linn rubbed her sore shoulder. She had absentmindedly gripped her shoulder until it hurt.
The pain slowly drifted away as she rejoined the group. Before she could go home, she needed to find a solution to the mark before it took away everything she'd worked so hard to protect.