"I have a wonder, Alistair, if you will indulge me."

Alistair's gaze slid towards the scantily clad witch walking just behind Aurora and Alaron, eyebrows raised slightly. This ought to be good. "Do I have a choice?" he asked, tone clipped. Morrigan was unfazed. Maker's Breath, this woman hardly even had to try to get under his skin.

"Of the two of you that remain, are you not the senior Grey Warden here? I find it curious that you allow another to lead while you follow," Morrigan stated smoothly.

"You find that curious, do you?" Alistair deflected, acting as if he was completely unaffected by her question. However, he could tell Aurora was listening, even if she was pretending she wasn't as they made their way through a maze of refugee tents towards the actual village of Lothering—how could she not be with how Morrigan and Alistair stood on either side of her.

"In fact, you defer to a new recruit! Is this the policy of the Grey Wardens, or simply a personal one?" Morrigan asked, though by her tone she already knew and was just trying to drag it out of him. Alistair scowled.

"What do you want to hear, that I prefer to follow? I do," Alistair stated shortly.

"You sound so very defensive," Morrigan mused, the amusement clear in her tone. Alistair's scowl deepened.

"Couldn't you crawl into a bush somewhere and die? That would be great, thanks," he retorted bitterly. Aurora sighed up ahead, but made no comment on their bickering as she continued to lead the way. As they came to the actual village part of Lothering, which still housed tents but not nearly as thickly as outside the open gates, a Templar waved them down.

"You there! If you're looking for safe shelter, I'll warn you, there's none to be found. Move on if you can. Lothering's lost."

Aurora wasn't discouraged, though Alistair noticed she kept a little farther away than normal from the armed man. "I was looking for some news, actually," she said casually, gaze skimming the ragged village around them.

"You might find that, though it's probably just frightened gossip. We've had refuges streaming from the south for the last two days. The chantry and tavern are full to bursting. There simply isn't enough food to go around, and we Templars can barely keep order. You'd be better off elsewhere, my friend."

Aurora inclined her head. "Can I ask a few questions?"

"I'm just out here to keep an eye out for darkspawn. Please ask someone in town...no offense," he tacked on at the end, sounding exhausted.

Aurora nodded, then hesitated. "Is anyone in charge here?"

"The bann has marched north with Teyrn Loghain, so Lothering's on its own. Most folks look to Elder Miriam. Otherwise you could speak to Ser Bryant in the Chantry, I suppose. It's up to you."

Aurora nodded. "Thanks," she said quietly before she continued on. They didn't see any shops of any kind, though there was a wagon off to the side where a commotion seemed to be taking place. Alistair was about to suggest that they head that way when Aurora was suddenly diverted by a weathered elven man with a bruise on his cheek.

"Greetings to you my lady. If it...isn't too much to ask, might you be able to spare some bread?" the man asked, his wife and child close at his side.

"What happened to you?" she asked with a sympathetic frown, taking in their ragged conditions and the bruise.

"We thought it'd be safer in Lothering, that the Teyrn would bring his soldiers here. But bandits on the road took everything—our clothes, food...my daughter's pet lamb. Nobody cares about a few elves like us. Surely you understand?" The man asked her with sorrowful eyes.

Aurora nodded, a dark look flickering across her face before her features softened once more. "I met those bandits. They're dead now."

"You...killed them?" the man asked, shocked. His wife, on the other hand, looked overjoyed.

"That's wonderful news, perhaps our belongings are still there!"

"I can't thank you enough friend. Even if we don't get everything back, it's good to know others will be safe," the man told Aurora with a smile before leading his family away back towards the road. Aurora watched them go for a second, and once she turned away Alistair gestured back towards the cart.

"I think that may be the shop of the town, though it looks like there's some sort of disturbance over there as well."

Aurora sighed. "Well, no one ever said life was easy," she said with a shake of her head, starting towards the cart. They only made it so far before a little red-headed boy stopped them, wide brown eyes staring up at Aurora.

"Have you seen my mother?" he asked curiously. Aurora blinked in surprise, then got down on one knee in front of the boy.

"That depends. Who is your mother?" she asked with a gentleness Alistair had not heard from her.

"She's really tall and she has red hair. We live on a big farmhold, all of us. Some mean men with swords came, and mother told me to run to the village as fast as I could, so I did. She said she would be right behind me, but I've been waiting and waiting, and I can't see her!"

Aurora was still processing what the child said as Alistair's gaze turned to that of sympathy. It was hard to see the loss the Blight brought.

"Do you know where your father is?" Aurora asked, her voice careful and calm.

"He went with William to the neighbor's yesterday, but he didn't come back."

Aurora closed her eyes, letting out a long breath before she looked back up to meet the child's gaze, a...deep pain and understanding flickering in her eyes. "I don't think your mother's coming, child," she said as carefully as she could.

"Why not? Why would she leave me here?" the child implored. Aurora shook her head.

"I don't think she meant to leave you," Aurora told him, though there was a slight shake to her voice near the end.

"But she must be coming!" the boy insisted. Aurora sighed softly, then tried a different angle.

"You can't stand here forever. What if she doesn't show?"

"I don't know. Maybe I should go home and look for her?"

Alarm flashed through Aurora's gaze, but she quickly got her expression under control. "No, don't do that, the men with swords might still be there," she said in a firm but still gentle tone.

"Then what should I do? I have nowhere to go, and I'm hungry!" he whined.

Aurora turned to the pouch of silvers she'd taken from the bandits, fishing out one of the silvers and pressing it carefully into the boy's hand, closing her hands over his. "Here, take this silver and buy something to eat. Then go to the Chantry—someone will look after you."

"I will, but only if I don't find mother first," the boy promised, then hesitated. "So, um...are you really an elf?" the child asked curiously. Aurora didn't take offense, only smiled.

"Did the ears give me away?" she asked with a wink. The child smiled back, shuffling his feet nervously.

"Father says elves aren't very nice, but you're nicer than everybody here. Thank you for helping me!" he said, then scampered off, most likely to get something to eat.

Aurora watched him go with a sad expression, then shook herself and rose to her feet. "Come on, we still need to get our supplies and see what news we can find," she said casually, back to her old, guarded self. Alistair filed the conversation away for later, wondering what pain specifically he'd seen in her eyes as she talked to the child and glad to see a softer side of her for once apart from the few moments with Alaron.

The small group approached the cart, where the owner was in a heated conversation with a Chantry Sister. As they reached the cart, the man pushed the sister away.

"Back off, I have the right to charge what I wish!"

"You profit from their misfortune. I should have the Templars give away everything in your cart!" the Chantry Sister cried.

"You wouldn't dare! Any of you step too close to my goods, and I'll—" the merchant started to threaten, but Alistair cut him off, speaking loudly so their presence would be noticed.

"It's so nice to see everyone working together in a crisis! Warms the heart."

The merchant whipped around, eyes narrowing on the armed elven woman in the front. "Ho! You there! You look able! Would you care to make a tiny profit helping a beleaguered businessman?"

Aurora scowled. "Why would I want to help you?"

"Didn't I mention profit?" the man asked with a sly grin. The Chantry Sister turned to face Aurora as well.

"He is charging outlandish prices for things people desperately need! Their blood is filling his pockets!" she accused hotly. Morrigan sighed.

"Tis only survival of the fittest. All of these cretins would do the same in his shoes, given the chance."

The merchant man turned back to Aurora, who was looking at him with a cold gaze. No matter what he tried, Alistair could tell she wasn't going to be swayed.

"I have limited supplies, the people decide what those supplies are worth to them," the merchant said impatiently.

"You bought most of your wares from these very people last week! Now they flee for their lives, and you want to talk business?" the Chantry Sister accused angrily. Somehow, Aurora's gaze on the merchant grew even colder.

"Look, stranger, I've a hundred silvers if you'll drive this rabble off, starting with that priest. I'm an honest merchant, nothing more," he said invitingly, eyes flickering to her pointed ears. Alistair scowled—he just thought because she was an elf she would jump at the opportunity for so much silver.

"You don't think you're being unscrupulous?" Aurora challenged, arching an eyebrow at him.

"Would it help these folks if they could buy no goods at all?" the merchant challenged right back.

"They spend their very last coin because they are desperate. And this man preys upon them as surely as the bandits outside the city!" the Chantry Sister stated harshly.

"I'm not arguing anymore! Drive off this woman and get your hundred silvers. Otherwise I'm taking my wagon and leaving," he threatened firmly. Aurora's eyes quickly sized the man up, weighing her options behind calculating eyes before she spoke in a level tone.

"I think you can compromise and still make a profit, no?" she stated pointedly. The merchant scowled.

"Perhaps...if that woman agrees I'm allowed to charge something," he bit out.

"Do what you must, so long as the prices do not beggar the needy," the Chantry Sister relented calmly.

The merchant groaned. "Fine, fine, done. And since you don't look too needy, normal prices for you," he snapped at Aurora. Morrigan took the opportunity to make a ridiculing comment.

"So...we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? My, but the darkspawn will be impressed!" she scoffed. Aurora ignored her as the Chantry Sister turned to her.

"Thank you for your generous assistance. May the maker watch over your path."

Aurora inclined her head, watching the Chantry Sister leave before she stepped up to the merchant. "Don't suppose you're looking to buy something?" the man huffed, a scowl clear on his face.

"We are, yes. Let's see what you've got," she said diplomatically.

"All right, just...don't buy everything up," he growled, moving to the cart to start pulling things out. "Is there anything specific you're looking for?"

Aurora nodded. "Yes, food, medical supplies, the like. I've also got stuff to trade, if you're willing."

The merchant grumbled, pulling out what he had while Aurora unstrapped her pack. Alistair's eyes widened as she immediately pulled out a large amount of glittering jewels, offering them to the merchant. When had those been in her pack?

Once she'd shown she had valuables to sell, the merchant became much friendlier, and Alistair left Aurora and the merchant to their bartering while he pursued what the man had. They were set on weapons, and the only one that really stood out to him in the collection the merchant had was a longsword of dwarven make. He was perfectly fine with his, with the Warden's crest engraved in the pommel, and so he passed by the weapons to look at the supplies.

He'd gathered a few health poultices and injury kits to buy, mindful that he didn't know how much money they were carrying as Aurora had that all tucked away in one of the pouches on her belt. Now he couldn't help but admire a small carved statuette in the shape of a robed woman the man had in a pile of junk. However, he was well aware that they had limited resources, and he wasn't about to waste their money on a useless trinket.

"Hey."

Alistair jumped slightly, having not heard Aurora approaching him from behind, obviously done trading with the merchant. He hastily set down the statuette, not wanting her to think he'd been hoping to slip that in with everything else. "I figured we might need these, so I grabbed a few," Alistair said, gesturing to the small collection of health poultices and injury kits he'd gathered.

Aurora nodded. "Yeah, you can't have too many of those," she commented, casting her gaze towards the collection of goods before her. She picked through some of the recipes the man had, smiling softly at two and adding them to the pile with an item that looked suspiciously like the fire bomb she'd noticed at the Tower of Ishal. Aurora cleared her throat, drawing Alistair's attention before she spoke. "Do you...do you want to talk? About Duncan?" she asked carefully, glancing over at him.

Alistair blinked in surprise, then shook his head, doing his best to keep his composure. He didn't need her thinking he couldn't keep a level head or that he was liable to break down and become completely useless at any given moment. "You don't have to do that. I know you didn't know him as long as I did."

Aurora shook her head in disagreement. "He was like a father to you. I understand," she returned gently, and Alistair glanced at her to see that she held no judgement in her gaze, and was truly giving him the opportunity to talk about it. Morrigan was several paces away scolding Alaron, so she wasn't close enough to be making snide comments—she was giving him the opportunity to get some of his grief off his chest instead of internalizing it.

"I..." he started before trailing off, looking away. Aurora moved slightly, it looked like she was getting something else off the cart, but she didn't stop him. "I should have handled it better. Duncan told me right from the beginning that this could happen."

Alistair sighed, looking back up to find that Aurora was indeed giving him her undivided attention. He appreciated the gesture she was making. "Any of us could die in battle. I shouldn't have lost it, not when so much is riding on us, not with the Blight and...and everything. I'm sorry."

"No, there's no need to apologize. There's nothing wrong with grieving," she assured him, glancing over the rest of the goods and picking through the food before she turned to approach the merchant. They bought what they had and then stood a few paces away from the merchant to pack everything up and continue their conversation.

"I'd like to have a proper funeral for him. Maybe once this is all done, if we're still alive. I don't think he had any family to speak of," Alistair said thoughtfully as he helped her put the supplies into her pack.

Aurora was quiet for a moment before she spoke up. "He had you."

Alistair blinked, finding some comfort in her words, despite how few they were. "I suppose he did..." he said quietly, looking down for a few moments before he hesitantly opened up a little more. "It probably sounds stupid, but part of me wishes I was with him in the battle. I feel like I abandoned him."

"It doesn't sound stupid at all," Aurora said quietly, though she wasn't meeting his gaze. "I understand completely."

Alistair sighed, pausing when Aurora pulled out another sack she must have bought to put the food in. He must not have been paying that much attention as she'd bought everything. Carefully, he set a loaf of bread safely inside the pack. "Of course, I'd be dead, then, wouldn't I? It's not like that would make him happier." He shook his head to try and clear out the dark thoughts. "I think he came from Highever, or so he said. Maybe I'll go up there sometime, see about putting something up in his honor. I dunno," he finished with a shrug, brow furrowed in thought. He glanced up at her, remembering the way she's spoken to the little boy, and how carefully she was speaking to him now with no judgement and only understanding in her gaze.

"Have you...had someone close to you die? Not that I mean to pry, I'm just..." he asked, struggling with a way to not make it seem like he was invading her privacy. He didn't want to take advantage of this chance she seemed to be giving him, didn't want to ruin it. Especially if that chance involved gaining some of her trust. They were the only two Wardens left in Ferelden—they had to be able to trust each other.

Aurora gave him a sad smile. "I saw plenty of death in the Alienage," she allowed.

Alistair wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. He'd heard stories about the Alienage, but how was he to know what was fact or fiction? All he knew was that this woman had come out of the Alienage with bruises and a severe distrust of human men, and had been genuinely shocked whenever someone human showed her any degree of decency or respect.

"Yes I suppose you...you must have. I can't even imagine, really," Alistair admitted haltingly. They finished packing up their stuff, though Aurora kept something clutched in her hand as she secured her pack that he didn't pay much attention to. He was too busy studying her face, chewing on the inside of his cheek before he spoke again, picking up the pack of food. "Thank you. Really, I mean it. It was good to talk about it, at least a little."

Aurora smiled gently at him. "Anytime, Alistair," she said, inclining her head, she scratched at her chin, then spoke haltingly. "Maybe...I'll go to Highever with you, when you go...if you'd like."

Alistair gave her a reassuring smile. "I'd like that. So, would he, I think."

Aurora nodded, then did her best to speak before the silence turned awkward. "I hope you get to feeling better, Alistair. And if you ever need to talk...well, I'm not going to pick on you like Morrigan and I can give feedback when you like unlike Alaron," she said, her lips twisting slightly towards a smile as she offered him the thing she'd been clutching in her hand. Alistair looked, and was surprised to find the carved statuette he'd been eyeing. Alistair blinked in surprise, looking up at Aurora and about to ask why when she continued. "I noticed you were eyeing it and, well...it's stupid, really, I just thought it might help cheer you up."

"That's...wow...thanks," he said, rather speechless. Was he dreaming? This new side of Aurora he was seeing...he wasn't going to wake up and find out it was all just a dream and she was still closed off and distant?

Aurora blushed slightly, then shrugged, backing away. "Anyway, we should keep moving...if there's news to be found, it will be in the tavern."

Alistair shook himself, giving her a sloppy grin and a quick nod. "Right—lead the way."

***********************************

"You might not want to go in. Tavern's full, and those soldiers are being a nuisance."

Aurora's eyebrows rose at the man who stopped them just outside the tavern, wondering why everyone and their dog kept stopping her today. Still, hadn't the Templar said that the Teyrn had taken his soldiers with him? So what soldiers were in the tavern? "Tell me about these soldiers."

The man scoffed. "They're not here to defend us. They were looking for someone...before they started drinking. I hear they almost killed a man because they didn't like his face. I wonder if they're deserters from the king's army?" he mused, his frown deepening.

Aurora nodded. "Well then...someone ought to do something about them if they're stirring up trouble—this town doesn't need any more of that," Aurora mused. "Excuse us," she said politely, stepping around the man to enter the tavern.

The sound of drunken laughter immediately wafted towards them as the door opened, and they crossed the threshold with Aurora's eyes quickly scanning the room. She spotted the soldiers in the corner to her left the same time they spotted her, and a grimace flickered across her face as the men's gazes darkened and they approached them with anger darkening their eyes.

"Well, look what we have here, men. I think we've just been blessed," the leader said as he came to a stop before Aurora. Alistair was at her side in the next moment, Alaron on the other with a growl.

"Uh-oh, Loghain's men; this can't be good," Alistair stated, hand itching towards his sword.

The one on the right spoke first, looking to their now obvious leader. "Didin't we spend all morning asking about an elf by this very description, and everyone said they hadn't seen one?"

"It seems we were lied to," the leader said, and Aurora bristled on behalf of the villagers that could come to harm because these shemlens thought they'd been here the entire time when they'd just walked into town.

Suddenly, a Chantry Sister with short, shocking red hair approached with daggers on her back like a rogue, speaking in a thick Orlesian accent—an odd combination, indeed.

"Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge," she said diplomatically

"They're more than that. Now stay out of our way, sister. You protect these traitors, you'll get the same as them!" the leader growled at the red-headed sister. Aurora's eyes flashed dangerously as Loghain's men dared to call her a traitor, her voice as sharp as her blade.

"It looks like he wants a fight. I'm all too happy to oblige."

"All right, let's make this quick then," the man's cocky right hand said, as if they would be no challenge. Counting the sister, it was five on five, and when the numbers were matched like that, Aurora felt her group would be the ones to make quick work of Loghain's men. Two of the soldiers near the back drew out bows, and Aurora stepped back to let Alistair block her from the other two with her shield while she reached for her bow and arrows.

"Morrigan," she shouted, nodding to the two in the back.

"With pleasure," she said with a wicked smile, that purple energy zipping out of her staff and into the first of the two archers. Aurora knocked her arrow and fired at the second while Alaron knocked a soldier that made a move on her to the ground, teeth ripping into him while Aurora sank an arrow into the archer furthest back. Alistair was locked in combat with the leader and quickly pushing him to submission, while the red-headed preist made surprisingly quick work of the soldier she'd been faced with. That only left the leader, who was barely holding Alistair off and panicked when he saw Alaron approaching in full battle-mode with a low growl.

"All right, you've won, we surrender!" he said quickly, which made Alistair hold back in his assault, though his shield still carefully kept Alistair safe from any attacks and his longsword was pointed steadily at the man's chest. The red-headed priest approached with a smile.

"Good. They've learned their lesson and we can all stop fighting now," she said simply. Aurora weighed her options, gazing at the man before her as she came even with Alistair. Everyone was watching to see what she would do.

She didn't want the man reporting back to Loghain...but then again...she could work such a thing to their advantage...give Loghain enough of a scare he might do something rash. "Take a message to Loghain," she said, her voice even and her gaze locked on the man before her.

"W-what do you want to tell him?" the man stuttered as he straightened and Alistair dropped his blade.

Aurora's gaze turned deadly, enough so the man shrank once more under her sharp eyes. "The Grey Wardens know what really happened," she said ominously.

"I'll tell him. Right away, now! Thank you," he said hastily, rushing out the door as soon as there was a path. Aurora shook her head, hoping the decision to let him live and report to Loghain wouldn't come back to haunt her.

Still, now wasn't the time to focus on that. The red-head stepped up to address her, her tone still perfectly polite. "I apologize for interfering, but I couldn't just sit by and not help."

Aurora inclined her head, unable to ignore the fact that she was, in fact, a Chantry Sister, and one usually didn't associate skilled rogues with Chantry Sisters. "So I see. Where does a sister learn to fight like that?"

"I wasn't born in the Chantry, you know. Many of us had more...colorful lives before we joined," she said, clearly picking her words with care. Aurora decided not to press for details. "Let me introduce myself. I am Leliana, one of the lay sisters of the Chantry here in Lothering. Or I was."

Aurora nodded. "I'm Aurora. A pleasure," she said politely.

"They said you were a Grey Warden. I'm surprised you're an elf, but elves must want the Blight defeated as much as humans, no?" Leliana said so bluntly Alistair looked taken aback, but Aurora didn't even flinch. There was an attitude towards elves she was more familiar with—at least Leliana wasn't screaming for all elves to be purged and was being polite to her. She thought of lying and saying that she wasn't a Grey Warden, but it had come from her own lips that she was a Grey Warden with the message she gave the soldier.

Leliana interrupted her musings. "I know after what happened, you'll need all the help you can get. That's why I'm coming along."

Now it was Aurora's turn to be taken aback. "Why so eager to come with me?"

"The Maker told me to."

Aurora stared at her for a good minute, trying to figure out how to respond. Her first thought was to go 'Right...I believe this is where I back away slowly,' but decided that was far too rude and settled for a more...subtle reaction while her companions stared at Leliana as if she'd just burped fire and turned into Loghain. "Can you...elaborate?" Aurora asked carefully.

It seemed Leliana was not oblivious to the looks she was receiving. "I-I know that sounds absolutely insane, but it's true! I had a dream—a vision!"

"More crazy? I thought we were all full up," Alistair muttered behind her, cutting off with an oof when she suddenly elbowed him, fighting a smile at the comment. Damn it, Alistair, I'm trying to be nice, don't make me laugh!

Leliana looked at her with such desperation that despite Alistair's comment she sobered rather quickly. "Look at the people here! They are lost in their despair, and this darkness, this chaos, will spread! The Maker doesn't want this!" Leliana said in a voice full of raw emotion. "What you do, what you are meant to do, is the Maker's work. Let me help!"

Aurora sighed, glancing back at the others before she gave a small nod. "Very well. I will not turn away help when it is offered."

"Perhaps your skull was cracked worse than mother thought," Morrigan mused from the back, far out of elbowing distance. Not that Aurora would dare elbow Morrigan—she might get cooked like one of the darkspawn if she even tried.

Leliana lit up. "Thank you. I appreciate being given this chance. I will not let you down!"

"I appreciate it Leliana. However, right now I only plan on sitting down at with the innkeeper, have a few drinks, and see if I can catch up to what's been going on around Ferelden through the rumor mill," Aurora told her, inclining her head and leaving the group to their own devices for a little while. Alaron trotted behind her, sitting at her feet as she got situated on the barstool right across the innkeeper. "Ale, please," she said, dropping the coin on the table before him.

The innkeeper set a bottle down in front of her, sizing her up. "You going to make more trouble? We've about all we can stand in Lothering now."

Aurora grimaced. "Sorry about the mess...I'm not here to cause trouble."

The innkeeper shrugged. "They had it coming, and they were trouble enough themselves. So long as you don't start more, I won't get excited." The innkeeper straightened, giving her a brisk nod. "Right then. Name's Danal. Anything else I can get you?"

Aurora smiled politely at him. "Well, Danal...have you heard any rumors?"

**************************************

"You were in there for quite a while—how did tapping the rumor mill go?" Alistair asked as Aurora approached. The others had gathered outside and must have wandered about doing their own thing, though it seemed Alistair had stayed in the same area to see when Aurora would appear from the tavern.

At his question, she closed her eyes and groaned. "Well...I did learn a lot, that's something."

"And...?" Alistair asked, arms folded over his chest.

Aurora huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "The daughter of the arl of whatever buys a new puppy every weak, the crafters of the Pear are threatening to close their doors if they're not recognized as a true guild, there's a curse on Queen Anora making her barren because she's a commoner and not from noble blood, Cailan wasn't Meric's real son and the real one has been locked under the castle eating cakes all his life, there's an in on a road that serves shepherd's pie with actual shepherds in it, Cailan was having an affair, corpses are popping out of the ground everywhere—" Aurora threw her hands in the air, fuming. Then she turned to face him once more. "Then after droning on about that nonsense, he actually started to get to stuff that we actually might want to hear. Like how something's going on at the Circle Tower and the Templars have closed it off so no one can come in or out, or how the king of Orzammar recently died and was quite possibly assassinated, or how there are werewolves running rampant in the Brecillian Forests, or how the Dalish tribes in the Brecillian Forests have fallen gravely ill possibly from the Blight! Let's not forget how the Knights of Redcliffe are looking for the Urn of Sacred Ashes because apparently Arl Eamon has fallen gravely ill, Loghain has declared himself regent and there's enough unrest because of it there may be civil war, and apparently Grey Wardens are evil archdemon worshipers who started the Blight and summon archdemons for attention."

Aurora finished her rant, pinching the bridge of her nose and taking several deep breaths, so she didn't see Alistair's reaction to her rant. She tilted her head back up towards the sky, counting to ten before she opened her eyes, finally calmer. "Maker's breath, we recover for a few days and the country spirals into chaos...on the bright side I talked someone inside into letting me buy a leather armor set for Leliana to use because Maker knows those robes aren't going to do much good against a darkspawn blade."

When she looked at Alistair, she could see the worry and doubt as their task was complicated tenfold before they even went anywhere to get the full effect of what was going on. She gave him a sad smile to help put him at least a little at ease. "One thing at a time, though, right?" she said with a sigh, shaking her head. "Come on, let's go find the others."

They found Leliana with Elder Miriam, the one the Templar had suggested they go see, and after giving the woman a few health poultices to help the refugees they sought out Morrigan. The mage had put as much distance between herself and the people of Lothering as possible, and so they found her near the outskirts of the village before some of the fields. They didn't immediately leave, however, as Aurora caught sight of a Qunari man in a cage of all things at the very edge of the village, and she had to investigate.

"You aren't one of my captors. I have nothing to say that would amuse you, elf. Leave me in peace," the huge man said as she approached. Aurora paused, but her curiosity remained, and he was in a cage, so he couldn't do anything to hurt her.

"Who put you here?" she asked, looking about the cage. She wasn't going to ask if he was a prisoner, that much was obvious.

"I'm in a cage am I not? I've ben placed here by the chantry," the man said tersely.

"The revered mother said that he slaughtered an entire family, even the children," Leliana said quietly from the back of the group.

"It is as she says," the Qunari said bluntly. "I am Sten of the Beresaad—the vanguard—of the Qunari peoples."

Suddenly wary, Aurora sized the man up. He would certainly be physically capable of such a thing...and he openly admitted to what Leliana said...but Aurora's experience in Denerim and experience overall as an elf among humans told her that there is usually more to the story, and sometimes the villain is in fact the victim. "I am Aurora...pleased to meet you."

"You mock me..." Sten said harshly before dropping the defensive stance. "Or you show manners I have not come to expect in your lands. Though it matters little now. I will die soon enough."

To Aurora's surprise, Morrigan spoke up, and it was not in ridicule. "This is a proud and powerful creature trapped as prey for the darkspawn. If you cannot see a use for him, I suggest releasing him for mercy's sake alone," she said with conviction. It seemed Aurora wasn't the only one surprised by the statement.

"Mercy?" Alistair stated in shock. "I wouldn't have expected that from you."

"I would also suggest that Alistair take his place in the cage," Morrigan added instantly in annoyance. Alistair snorted softly.

"Yes, that's what I would have expected."

"I suggest you leave me to my fate," Sten said bluntly, gaze boring into Aurora. She refused to back down, deciding to take Morrigan's advice.

"I find myself in need of skilled help," she said simply, holding his gaze.

"No doubt," he said, shooting the others a look. "What help do you seek?"

"I am sworn to defend the land against the Blight."

"The Blight...Are you a Grey Warden, then?

"Yes, I am."

"Surprising. My people have heard legends of the Grey Wardens' strength and skill...though I suppose not every legend is true."

Aurora didn't even blink—she was used to this kind of attitude, it was the accepting and polite attitude that kept throwing her off. She instead pushed on with business. "Would the Revered Mother let you free?"

"Perhaps, if you told her the Grey Wardens need my assistance. It seems as likely to bring my death as waiting here."

"Then I shall leave you here for now," Aurora said, inclining her head slightly.

"Farewell, then."

As they turned to head towards the Chantry, Leliana spoke up in a soft voice. "To be left here to starve or to be taken by the darkspawn...no one deserves that. Not even a murderer."

"No...though even if the story is terrible...there may be more to it that no one knows than him," Aurora replied.

"You sound as if you speak from experience," Leliana commented perceptively. Aurora scratched absentmindedly behind Alaron's ear.

"The experience of many an elf with shemlens."

"Shemlens?"

Aurora glanced behind her at the curious looks she was getting. "It's, ah...well...a word we use for humans."

"Oh..." was all Leliana said. They reached the chantry, and as they made their way to the gate Alistair suddenly snorted.

"The Chantry is still running the Chanters Board? Now that's dedication."

Aurora chuckled, though the sound died in her throat when she heard frantic screams from a man in the Chantry's courtyard. Coming around the corner, she saw a man with a large war axe strapped to his back pacing and shouting for all of Ferelden to hear.

"The legions of evil are on your doorstep! They will feast upon our hearts! There is nowhere to run! This evil will cover this world like a plague of locusts!" he shrieked.

"Please, you're scaring the children!" one of four farmers that had gathered pled. The man rounded on the farmer, continuing his mad tirade.

"Better to slit their throats now than to let them suffer at darkspawn hands!" The man turned once more and spotted Aurora approaching, and his eyes seemed to bulge from their sockets. "There! One of their minions is already amongst us! This woman bears their evil stench! Can you not see the vile blackness that fills her?"

Aurora scowled, glancing at the others and the Templars who simply stood by. "Is no one going to shut this madman up?"

"Be my guest," the nearest Templar stated. "I've no urge to try out that ax of his."

"I watched the black horde descend on my people. Darkness swallowed the marshes whole! This minion is but the first of those who will destroy us!" the man howled, jabbing a finger at Aurora, who held back her sneer. "Don't be a fool. Darkspawn can be defeated!"

"No! I have seen them. You cannot run! You cannot fight!"

"Standing around and shouting won't save you," Aurora shot back, arms folded over her chest.

"There is nothing to do! No hope is left!"

"Could you cluck like a chicken when you do that?" Aurora asked coldly, and finally the man paused.

"Are you...calling me a coward!" he roared.

"I'm calling you an idiot. Listen to yourself for a moment!" Aurora snapped, and finally she seemed to get through to the man.

"I...I have shamed my ancestors! But the blackness will come!" he cried, his voice seeming to dissolve into tears as he ran off, disappearing completely from view and ceasing his shouts of madness and fear.

She was really getting tired of people. She couldn't wait until they left Lothering. She just needed the day to be over and to get some rest.

One of the Chantry Brothers that had been observing the man's ramblings shook his head. "He was right, wasn't he? There's no hope for us!"

Aurora shook her head, dropping the cold demeanor she'd held for the madman. "There's always hope. Muster your courage!" she said with conviction.

The Brother nodded purposefully. "You're right, we can't give up!"

"But we can't fight! What are we supposed to do?" one of the farmers asked worriedly.

"We can't lie down and die, either! We must go north, to Denerim!" another farmer said, and one by one they scattered to make preparations to leave.

Aurora resisted heaving a sigh and led the way to the doors of the Chantry. Despite the claims that the Chantry was full to bursting, Aurora didn't see that many people inside the Chantry once they entered. She saw a Templar giving orders to a few other Templars and decided that might be Ser Bryant, the other person the Templar at the gates had suggested she see. He could wait for later, though, as she just wanted to see the Revered Mother right now. Right before they reached the alter, Alistair paused, drawing Aurora's attention to the right.

"Wait, I...I think I know that man," he said with a slight frown, already moving towards him. Aurora bit back her annoyance and fell into step beside Alistair to approach the heavily armored man. He started when we came close enough, turning to face them.

"Who...? I beg your pardon, I did not see your approach," the man said, blinking in surprise.

"Ser Donall?" Alistair asked. "Is that you?"

The man's face lit up in recognition while Aurora pursed her lips in thought. Donall, Donall...where had she heard that name? "Alistair? By the Maker, how are you! I...I was certain you were dead!"

"Not yet, no thanks to Teyrn Loghain," Alistair said bitterly.

Ser Donall shook his head. "If Arl Eamon were well, he'd set Loghain straight soon enough."

"But if Arl Eamon is sick, why are you here?" Alistair asked in confusion.

"Our only hope now is a miracle. Every knight of Redcliffe has gone in search of the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Andraste's ashes are said to cure any illness. But I fear we are chasing a fable. With each day, my hope dims," Ser Donall said mournfully.

"So your quest for the ashes brought you here?" Aurora asked.

"I expected to take advantage of the chantry's library, in fact, but my skills are better suited to battle than chasing down tales."

Aurora inclined her head in acknowledgement. "Could you perhaps tell me more about this Urn of Sacred Ashes?"

"Supposedly the Urn contains the ashes of the prophetess Andraste. Surely you know all this?"

Aurora nodded. "Well, I know as much. I'd like to hear what you've learned."

"If you're truly interested, there are books here containing a great deal of lore. Nothing I have found leads me to believe that this was anything more than a quest of desperation. I intend to return to Redcliffe soon and tell the arlessa exactly that, once Ser Henric arrives."

The light sparked to life in Aurora's mind as she finally placed where she'd heard Ser Donall's name with the mention of a Ser Henric. "Ser Henric wouldn't happen to be a Templar, would he?" she asked carefully, reaching into her pack.

"Yes, he is...why do you ask? Have you seen him?" Ser Donal asked. Aurora grimaced.

"I'm afraid he's dead. I have something of his," she said gently, pulling out the note and locket she'd found on the dead Templar by the bandits on the road.

"What?" he exclaimed in shock, taking the two items from her. "And you have his locket...and a note. Maker's mercy. Thank you for giving me these. I would never have known otherwise."

"We already dealt with the bandits that killed him," she assured him, securing her pack back in place.

"Thank you. I wonder how many of us have met similar fates on this mad quest..."

"I'm glad we could help, but we should probably get going," Aurora said as graciously as she could.

Ser Donall nodded. "With Henric gone, I need to return to Redcliffe. Perhaps later I will seek out the scholar his note mentions, but I must go as well. Thank you again, my lady. You have been most helpful."

Aurora looked at Alistair once Ser Donall had left, a curiosity rising that she'd been too overwhelmed to register the last time the topic came up. "Alistair...I don't believe I caught how you know Arl Eamon."

Alistair blinked. "Oh...I suppose I didn't mention that, did I? The Arl raised me before I was sent to the Chantry," he said as they turned into the room the Revered Mother was in. Aurora would have pressed for a little more information than that, but her chance was cut short by the Revered Mother who was sitting in a chair at the edge of the room.

"Good Day, Sister Leliana. I'm surprised you're still in Lothering," the Revered Mother said once she spotted Leliana among their group.

"It is good to see you as well, Your Reverence," Leliana replied graciously.

"I do not recognize your companion. Greetings. Will you be making a donation to the chantry? Our need has never been greater."

Aurora bit down slightly at the almost greedy tone the woman had at the end, but at the same time she'd seen the state of the refugees, and how little supplies Lothering had—they did need all the help they could get. "What tithe is acceptable?" she asked patiently.

"Might I suggest thirty silver?"

Had a Chantry Sister asked someone in the Alienage for that much, there would have been an instant uproar and cry of robbery, but Aurora knew that they had over three sovereigns worth at least, and could spare that much to help the refugees. She only hoped it would actually be put to helping them and not simply stuff the Chantry's coffers. "Very well. Thirty silver it is."

"Thank you, dear woman. What can I do for you then?" the Revered Mother asked pleasantly.

"I want to talk about Sten, the Qunari you imprisoned," Aurora said carefully, knowing this was going to be shaky ground she trod.

The woman rose to her feet, starting to pace. "It might have been kinder to execute him, but I leave his fate to the Maker. Why does he interest you?"

"Is there any way I can convince you to release him?" Aurora offered carefully.

"Then his next victims might count you and me as their murderers," the woman said, studying Aurora with a suddenly sharp eye. Aurora wasn't deterred.

"I was thinking you might release him into my custody," she elaborated. To her surprise, the Reverend mother turned to ignore her completely and instead turned to Leliana.

"And what do you say on this, Leliana? You know your friend better than I."

Leliana straightened, and Aurora was suddenly glad she'd brought the woman along. "These are...unusual times, Your Reverence. With us, the Qunari might do some good. I am sure of it, in fact."

The Revered Mother sighed. "Were things not so desperate...very well, I trust you. Take these keys to his cage, and Maker watch over you."

"Thank you, Your Reverence. Your trust is not misplaced," Leliana said graciously.

They turned to leave, and Aurora pulled the armor she'd bought for Leliana out of her pack. Maker, it was much lighter now. "Here, I got you some armor to use—you'll need something a lot sturdier to fight against the darkspawn," Aurora said pointedly.

"Ooh, thank you so much. I'll go ahead and change before we leave the Chantry," she said cheerfully, disappearing to do so while Aurora turned to Alistair.

"Do you want to go and see if there's anything on the Chanter's board for us to earn a bit of quick coin before we leave? I'm going to go speak to Ser Bryant and let him know those bandits won't be bothering him anymore," Aurora said.

"Of course," Alistair returned with a nod, setting off for the door while Aurora approached Ser Bryant with only Morrigan and Alaron at her side. The Templar turned to face her as she approached, sizing the three of them up.

"Yes, my lady? Who might you be?"

"You can call me Aurora," she said simply, deciding not to instantly reveal herself as a Grey Warden to anyone after hearing the lie Loghain had spread for everyone to believe.

"I am Ser Bryant, commander of Lothering's remaining Templars. You don't seem like the other refugees...Are you one of Arl Eamon's knights?" he asked curiously.

"No, I'm not."

His eyebrows rose at her short and blunt answer, but he didn't press her for more. "Then what might I do for you?"

"About those bandits outside the village..." she started, but he cursed and cut her off.

"Maker's breath, how many times must we drive them off!"

"No, I, ah...figured I should tell someone that they won't be bothering you again. I killed them."

"All of them? By yourself?" he asked incredulously.

"Well..." Aurora started to explain, but another Templar who had been listening in stepped up.

"It's true, I saw it from my post. It was over so fast we didn't even have time to get over there."

Ser Bryant shook his head. "Sad that it needed to come to that, but then they asked for it. Will you accept a small reward for your service?"

"Well, I won't turn it away..." she said hesitantly, having not expected a reward. She'd simply come to tell them they didn't have to worry about bandits. The man nodded, handing over twenty silver that she tucked away in her pocket.

"If it interests you, there is a chanter's board outside full of jobs that need doing. The chanters even offer pay for some of them. Now, unless there's something else you need...?"

Aurora shook her head. "No, that's all I wished to speak of. I'll be going now."

The man crossed his arms over his chest and gave a small bow. "Travel safely, and may the Maker watch over you."

"And you," Aurora said simply before turning away, striding several paces to stand by the door. They were just waiting on Alistair and Leliana, so to pass the time Aurora turned to Morrigan.

"Morrigan, may I ask you something?"

"If you must," Morrigan said with a sigh.

"Did you grow up in the Korcari Wilds?"

Morrigan suddenly turned annoyed. "Why do you ask me such questions? I do not probe you for pointless information, do I?"

Aurora shrugged. "You could if you wanted to."

Morrigan actually laughed, and once Aurora was past the initial shock she smiled. "Oh, what luck!" Morrigan sighed, returning to seriousness. "What is it you asked? If I grew up in the Wilds? A curious question. Where else would you picture me? For many years it was simply Flemeth and I. The Wilds and its creatures were more real to me than Flemeth's tales of the world of man. In time, I grew curious. I left the Wilds to explore what lay beyond. Never for long—brief forays into a civilized wilderness."

"And you remained unnoticed?" Aurora asked curiously, leaning against one of the chantry's pillars where they stood in a dark corner.

"For the most part. Flemeth taught me well," Morrigan said with a smile. "For all that I had been taught, however, the truth of the civilized lands proved to be...overwhelming. I was unfamiliar with so much. SO confident and bold was I, yet there was much that Flemeth could never have prepared me for."

Aurora nodded. Before the events at the Denerim castle, she hadn't been brave enough to really leave the Alienage unless she absolutely had to despite all her daydreams of running off to the Dalish or turning into a bird and flying away. "Very daring. That sounds like you."

Morrigan laughed again—for as cold and standoffish as she acted, her laugh was...girly. Like a schoolgirl's giggle. "Equal parts daring and foolhardy, perhaps. Only once was I accused of being a Witch of the Wilds, and that by a Chasind who happened to be traveling with a merchant caravan. He pointed and gasped and began shouting in his strange language, and most assumed he was casting some curse upon me. I acted the terrified girl, and naturally he was arrested."

Aurora raised her eyebrows, giving her a slight smile. "That was quick thinking," she commended.

Morrigan chuckled. "Men are always willing to believe two things about a woman; one, that she is weak, and two that she finds him attractive."

Aurora sighed, shaking her head. "Indeed."

"I played the weakling and batted my eyelashes at the captain of the guard. Child's play," Morrigan continued with a soft snicker. "The point being that I was able to move through human lands fairly easily. Whatever humans think a Witch of the Wilds looks like, tis not I. Not that I did not have trouble. There are things about human society which have always puzzled me. Such as the touching—why all the touching for a simple greeting?"

Aurora frowned slightly. "Touching? Like a handshake?" Aurora shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not human—and recently I'm not too big on the touching part either," she finished with a small smile.

"Do not speak to me of trivialities. Your culture is not so entirely different," Morrigan chided her before she again continued. "There were many nuances that Flemeth could never tell me of. When to look into another's eyes, how to eat at a table, how to bargain without offending...none of these things I knew. I still do not understand it all, truth be told. But, then, I gave up long ago any hope of doing so. When I returned to the Wilds last, I swore to Flemeth that I had no intentions of leaving again."

Aurora's smile grew slightly. "Well, I'm glad it worked out this way, at least."

"Yes? Let's ignore the entire darkspawn threat and the presence of a simpleton as your only other Grey Warden ally, then." Morrigan's expression and tone softened. "Not that I lack appreciation for the intent of your comment. Thank you."

Morrigan sighed as the Chantry doors opened. "Well, let's get on with it before the ground opens up and swallows us, yes?"

Aurora laughed, turning back to see a wary Alistair approaching them. "You're laughing, and Morrigan's the only other person around...do I want to know why?" he asked cautiously. Morrigan huffed, but Aurora spoke before the woman could make a demeaning comment towards Alistair.

"We were just talking, don't worry about it," she told him with a smile. She nodded to the rolled up scroll in his hands. "Did you find something?"

Alistair shook his head, undoing the scroll and showing it to her. "Yeah, there are apparently more bandits north of the area..."