"Where am I?" Her voice sounded hollow even to her own ears. She didn't care where she was. 'Looks like a cave. Wonder if Alistair is around we should really get back to… whatever it was we were doing before this.' It had been nearly 3 months since she had joined the Wardens and left her clan. When she reached the cave's mouth she looked around confused. 'We weren't anywhere near this forest. I know this forest well and we were at least 4 days from it… Or… No we've been camped in this forest the last week. What am I thinking? I should go find the Keeper.' After walking for a few steps she suddenly had the feeling that she was being watched. But every time she turned nothing would be there. So she decided on a different tactic. Using her natural rouge abilities she went into stealth after tuning a corner and waited. She saw the person following her but not their face. 'Male. Elf, I think, and… No way. He is not sneaking up on me.' She waited one breath… two… three… And she sprung onto the man's back. They fell, tumbling down the hill, landing in a tangle of limbs and arrows. "Ha. I win again."

The man held in arms up in surrender. "Fine. You win. I still want to know how you do that."

"A winner never reveals her secrets Tamlen. Or was that mages?"

"Ha, ha. Now how about you get off me and we have a real contest, Mari?"

"Well what did you have in mind, Lethallan?"

Tamlen stood up and dusted himself off. "Well I propose a race back to camp."

"Great. Starting line here then?" She pointed to the ground where a thick root lay at their feet.

"Yes. And one more thing."

"What?"

"I'm winning." Tamlen took off running leaving Marina at the stump.

"Tamlen you cheat!" She took off as quick as an arrow speeding after him. In no time she caught up to him. They were neck and neck for almost a quarter mile. The camp was in sight now and Marina had one more trick up her sleeve. She turned to Tamlen and said, "Tamlen I love you." That stopped him dead in his tracks. She burst across the entrance to the camp holding her arms up in victory. "And I win again. What do you think off that?"

"That was a dirty trick. You can't just say things like that to a person."

"And you can start before me and that's fair? Besides it's not like I was lying."

"WHAT?!"

She let out a sigh. "Seriously Tamlen, you haven't caught any of my signals? The time I fell in the water and pretended not to know how to swim. The day I 'got lost' in the forest and they sent you to look for me. And even on your birthday when I kissed you. You missed all of that?"

"Well I… You weren't really clear and… I just…"

"Wow you need to get out more. Or maybe you need to stay in more instead." She turned and laughed at Tamlen's red face. "You should really know me better than that. I meant you should probably stay in camp more rather than go off hunting you could learn more from the men who are actually married." She laughed again at his attempt at a comeback. "Relax. Now you know this for later." She smiled a nice friendly smile. "Let's go. I think the Keeper is making an announcement at the feast. You did catch something for the feast right?"

"Of course. I just… I left it… and…"

"Creators Tamlen. You really haven't caught anything?"

"I'm just joking. I caught it with Pol earlier. It's already being prepared."

"How did you get paired with Pol? How is Pol even able to hunt yet? He's only been with us for a week."

Tamlen looked at her in confusion. "Pol's been with us for 6 months now. Are you feeling okay?"

'No that can't be… Can it?' "Ya, I'm fine. I'm just having trouble remembering what I was doing before you found me."

"Nothing. You were just in that cave."

"That makes no sense at all. I mean I couldn't have been doing nothing at all. I was right in the middle of something really important."

"Well… when I say nothing I mean you had today off. You were just out there waiting for your birthday feast. You did remember it was your birthday, right?"

'I knew that right? Of course I knew that. But it's still strange to see everyone again. It feels like I haven't seen them for ages.' "Yes. But the important thing is what did you get for me? You remembered too didn't you?"

"I was about to give it to you but you tackled me first. Makes you sorry you did that don't it?"

"Nope. I love tackling you. Mainly because I always win." Her friendly smile turned to a devilish grin. "So what did you get me?" She grabbed at him trying to get his backpack. He jumped out of the way just in time. "Come on Tamlen. Let me see!"

"No. You need to be patient."

She stopped trying to grab him and stood there with her lower lip pursed. "You're so mean."

He laughed at her. "Now you know that hasn't worked on me for years. I'm immune to your girly charms." She looked at him with her huge green puppy dog eyes and whimpered softly. "Creators help me. I hate when you do that. Fine!  I'll give you your present just stop looking at me like that!"

"Yay! I knew you weren't immune!" Marina started jumping up and down, clapping her hands together excitedly. "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie!!"

"Just be patient. Here. Take it, just take it and leave me alone." He held out a flower to her, blushing. "Do you know what this is?"

"What?"  A face flashed across her mind and then was gone. "Umm… A rose?"

"Ya. I saw it and thought of you. It was stupid I just wanted to tell you how special you are to me."

"Tamlen… I don't know what to say." She started to blush the man's face all but forgotten. "You're important to me too."

"Come on. We've got to go present hunting." He grabbed her hand pulling her forward and through the camp. She tried to wave to people as they went but eventually she just gave up and laughed. They came up on a person who stepped in front of them forcing Tamlen to stop. "Hey. We're present hunting. Do you have something for the birthday girl?" He brought Marina in front of him.

"I know you." Mari said.

"I am Maren lest you have forgotten."

Another face flashed across. She shook her head. 'Get a hold of yourself. You don't need everyone thinking you've gone crazy on your birthday.'

"Are you alright Mari?" Tamlen asked concerned.

She gave a shaky nod. "I'm fine. Just thought I remembered something. Probably nothing."

"Still we should go see the Keeper."

"Maybe your right Tamlen. Goodbye Maren."

"Wait I have a gift for you." She handed her a package wrapped in leaves and vines. "It's not much but I got it when I was a little girl."

Mari opened the gift gently after the wrapping fell to the floor she was left with a stunning golden mirror. "I… I can't accept this."

"Nonsense. Now go to the Keeper and get better the feast is tonight."

"Come on Mari. The Keeper is over here." He led her away. That strange feeling was in her stomach. Just like it was right before she was attacked by Dar… by… I was never attacked. What am I thinking?' "Keeper? Marina isn't feeling well. We were wondering if you had something to help with it. It is her birthday after all. And we don't want a sick girl at the party."

"Of course child. Bring her in." Keeper Marethari motioned for them to follow her into the tent.

"Could I have a minute with Tamlen first?"

"Make it quick Da'len; the feast will be starting soon."

After the Keeper went inside of her tent Marina turned to Tamlen and asked, "Could you take me to the forest really quick?"

"The Keeper said you needed to be healed."

"I know. But I think I'll be fine as soon as I'm away from here."

"Come on. I'll take you to the edge of camp but we have to stay here."

'But Tamlen always encouraged me to sneak out. Something's off.' She kept her expression the same. One of joy rather than the disquiet she felt in her mind. Soon they reached the edge of camp. She was right she was feeling better but not good yet. She just needed to get a little further. She started to walk away but Tamlen caught her arm. "Wait!"

"What is it Tamlen? You use to like sneaking out."

"I just wanted to ask you something."

"Anything." Now the feeling in her stomach was butterflies. 'Is he really going to say it? Is he going to kiss me?'

"It's just. We've known each other a long time and I've come to care for you. Do you… Do you think you could ever care for me like I do for you?"

"You know I already do."

He started to lean over to kiss her, whispering sweet words to her. "So I fooled you, did I? Good to know."

He put his hand on her neck to draw her closer... Suddenly everything came flooding back to her. 'Alistair!' Right before her eyes, just for a split second, Tamlen turned into Alistair. 'Tamlen died. I'm with Alistair. Tamlen never loved me. It was all a lie." She closed her eyes, now dripping with tears, tightly. 'A demon from the Circle did this to me.' Her hand reached for the blade she kept in the back of her real armor not the one she got in this dream. She whispered into his lips right before they met hers. "I'm sorry, my love." Then she brought the blade up into his heart. She made the mistake of opening her eyes and seeing the pained look on his face. She started crying harder. After what felt like ages he finally fell onto the damp forest floor. She leaned down, placing her hands over his face. "Sleep my love. Your time has come, too soon. Now I'm filled with sorrow. Weary eyes need resting; heart has become grey and slow… We laugh and cry. We love one more day." She gently closed his eyes. She rose now in her blood plate armor, and picked up both of her longswords and started walking towards the camp. It would be difficult to kill the others but if she could kill her Tamlen, she could kill anyone. "I'll make them pay. I'll make them all pay." She was no longer Marina of the Dalish. She was now just another broken soul. Killing Tamlen had destroyed her and she wouldn't stop until the one responsible was lying in a pool of blood at her feet. She would have revenge.