When we made camp the first night afterward, Alistair approached me after setting up his tent. "Now that we're back at camp, I want to talk about what happened at Redcliffe."

"What's on your mind?" I asked. Why hadn't he said anything while we were having our rest and horseplay at Redcliffe?

"I just wanted to thank you. You went out of your way to save the Arl's family and you did it, even though it would have been easier not to. There's been so much death and destruction, it... well, it makes me feel good that at least we were able to save something, no matter how small. I owed the Arl that much," The Arl meant more to Alistair than he had initially let on, despite the hurt and bitterness from being sent away to the Chantry.

"If we stop the Blight we'll save much more."

"You're right. Hopefully, by that time, there's still enough of Ferelden to save. Good, now that the warm, fuzzy part of the day is over with we can get back to the ritual dismemberments," I had to laugh. Leave it up to Alistair to make some random joke after a heart felt thanks. "Oh, wait, it's not Tuesday, is it?"

I shook my head as he turned away. "Alistair," He turned back to me as I reached into my pack and pulled out the cloth wrapped amulet. "I think this belongs to you."

He looked at me, puzzled, and took it. Different emotions came across his face when he unwrapped it. "This... this is my mother's amulet," he said, slowly. I had guessed correctly. "It has to be." His words had echoed my thoughts exactly when I had found it. "But why isn't it broken? Where did you find it?"

"In Redcliffe Castle. In the study."

"Oh. The Arl's study? Then he must have... found it after I threw it at the wall. And he repaired it and kept it? I don't understand. Why would he do that?"

I could see that the amulet meant a lot to him. I touched the ring that Marethari had given me before I left my clan. The only part of my clan I still had.

"I don't know, but it's yours, Alistair."

The look he gave me was one of gratitude. "Thank you. I mean it. I... thought I'd lost this to my own stupidity. I'll need to talk to him about this. If he recovers from his... when he recovers, that is. I wish I had this a long time ago."

I put my hand on his arm, a gesture I had never done to anyone save Tamlen.

"Did you remember me mentioning it? Wow. I'm more used to people not really listening when I go on about things."

I thought about making a joke about not listening. "Of course I remembered," I said instead. What came out of my mouth next was not something I had intended to say out loud. "You're special to me." He either didn't notice or he didn't show it.

"I don't know what to say. You're special to me, too." Okay, he'd noticed. But at least he wasn't making a big deal out of it. "Thank you again." He walked over to his tent, holding the amulet close to his chest.

Leliana approached my tent next. "I must say that traveling with you has opened my eyes to how wrong some are about the Dalish."

I looked at her. What was she about to ramble about this time?

"You are not at all savage. And I've not seen you snatch away women and children without provocation."

"Women and children aren't my taste. I'd snatch away men."

Leliana giggled.

"Besides my people are often misunderstood. We're used to it." Which was why we stayed away from Shemlen settlements.

"If my people were more open to interacting with yours, we could do away with such misperceptions."

"There are closed minded individuals on both sides." I knew several just in my clan.

"I hear many city folk talk about how wonderful it must be to live simpler lives, close to the earth. They could learn from the Dalish."

"We do live quite close to the earth."

"How marvelous that must be! I have met very few Elves and those that I have met were..." She seemed to be trying to figure out how to word what she was saying. "Pledged to the service of Orlesian nobles."

"I could never live like that." I wasn't pledged to anyone and I never would be. Even as a Grey Warden, the only thing I was pledged to was ending the Blight.

"Elven servants are well compensated for their services. Some of them live richer lives than humans. A well trained Elven servant is highly valued in Orlais. They are nimble and dexterous and many people find them pleasant to look at." Her mouth seemed to be running away from her again.

"Like a prize winning animal?"

The look on her face was priceless. "No, I did not mean it that way! Oh, my words were clumsily chosen. I did not mean to offend. I am so sorry."

"I may be Elven but I am also more than the, Leliana. I am also a person."

Her cheeks had a tint of red to them. "Of course. I'm sorry if I implied otherwise. Thank you. You have given me a lot to think about." I knew she hadn't meant it to come out the way it had.

I went and spoke with Wynne, whom I hadn't the chance to talk with as of yet.

"It has been a long day," the old Mage said. "Rest... rest would be welcome."

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes, yes, of course. I'm just a little... weary. As you may have noticed, I'm no spring chicken."

"There's still some life in those old bones yet, I bet." I'd seen the way she'd defended the children at the Tower.

Wynne smiled. "Thank you. You're very kind to say so. But in all honesty, I do not know how many years I have left in me. I have lived for such a long time. But there is always something else to do and I have to keep going in order to do it. I think I will be glad when I am... done."

"I'm sure you'll be kicking around for years yet."

"Oh, I don't know. I really don't." We spoke about the Tower and how she came to the Tower. And she asked about the Keepers and their roles in the clan. "May I ask you about the Mage in the Fade?" I'd been dreading that question. "The one you said was your father."

"He was. He died when I was very young. I barely remember him."

"Then how did you know he was your father?"

"My sister has some of his features. And I just knew he was my father. I don't know how. And when he appeared I knew that dream wasn't real. He helped me break free."

"They say that in the Fade we can summon our loved ones who've passed on. Perhaps you summoned him without realizing?"

"He said he'd felt me."

Wynne smiled. "Then he is still watching over you."

It was nice thought. I barely remembered him and I always wished I had more memories of him.

Alistair was sitting next to the fire between our tents. I joined him and he turned to me. "Here," he said. "Look at this. Do you know what this is?" He had handed me a beautiful rose with red velvety pedals. I figured he had to be gearing up for some sort of prank or joke.

"Your new weapon of choice?" I asked, attempting to beat him to it.

"Yes, that's right. Watch as I thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arraignments! Feel my thorns, Darkspawn! Gah! I will overpower you with my rosy scent!" He inhaled deeply and I grinned. "Or, you know, it could just be a rose. I know it's pretty dull in comparison. I picked it in Lothering. I remember thinking 'How could something so beautiful exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness?' I probably should have left it alone but I couldn't. The Darkspawn would come and their taint would just destroy it. So I picked it and enchanted it with lyrium and I've had it ever since."

"That's a nice sentiment," I admitted.

"I thought that I might..." He suddenly seemed unsure of what to say next. "Give it to you, actually." He said the last part slowly, as if he was unsure what my reaction to it would be.

I just looked at him. Me? He picked a flower to give to me?

"In a lot of ways, I think the same when I look at you."

I looked down at the rose in my hand. He didn't know I was nearly destroyed by the Darkspawn taint. Or did he? I didn't know what Duncan had told the others about my recruitment. Or did he think the beauty of the rose reminded him of me? "I... don't know what to say," I said, slowly.

"I guess it's a bit silly, isn't it? I just thought... here I am doing all this complaining and you haven't exactly been having a good time of it yourself. You've had none of the good experience of being a Grey Warden since your Joining, not a word of thanks or congratulations. It's all been death and fighting and tragedy. I thought maybe I could say something. Tell you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst all this... darkness."

"I feel the same way about you." He'd been the only constant part of my life since my Joining and I realized that I clung to that.

"I'm glad you like it." He smiled and then looked down at his hands. "Now, if we could move right on past this awkward embarrassing stage and get right to the steamy bits, I'd appreciate it."

I grinned. "Sounds good," I said. "Off with the armor, then."

Of course, I didn't truly mean it. It was all a part of the banter.

Alistair laughed nervously. "Bluff called! Damn! She saw right through me." His face had started to turn red.

"You're so cute when you're bashful."

"I'll be..." He laughed nervously again. "I'll be over here. Until the blushing stops. Just to be, uh, safe. You know how it is." He retreated over to his tent.

I looked at the rose and brought it to my nose and inhaled its scent. I smiled, thinking about the intention behind it. Did he really think I was beautiful? Was there more to this gesture? I stole a glance at Alistair, who was still red faced but trying to hide it. I retreated into my own tent. His gift wasn't helping me sort out these feelings I was having.