Heyyyy everyone, I'm backkkk! Lol! Merry Christmas! XDDD Well, for those who celebrate it of course ;) Everyone else, Happy Holidays! ^^

Read, Review, and as always ENJOY

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Disclaimer: I own nothing, that honor goes to bioware. The only thing I lay claim to is the idea that spurs this fic ^^

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-Moving Along-

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Previously;

Kai snorted. "A very convenient sign..."

Anders' lips quirked up. "Isn't it, though? The Maker moves in mysterious ways..." He drawled out in a mysterious tone before he finally turned to face them fully. "Well, tell you what, I'll help you, and we can discuss what comes later...later, once all these bastards are properly put down, yes?" he piped up suddenly, eyebrows raised as he eagerly awaited their response.

Kai ignored the glare that Alistair sent - though it was knowing and full of exasperation, as he knew her only too well - and grinned.

"I like the way you think."

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-Cleaning Up the Keep-

They made their way through the next room, heading out into the battlements. After clearing their way through it and raiding any and every crate and container, Alistair proceeded to drag Kai while she admired a nicely made crossbow.

Anders and Mhairi shared a look, but shrugged, following them. Whether it was a good or bad thing, they were getting used to the pair of eccentrics.

Not at all minding the man's arm around her waist, she peered up an asked him. "I don't get it. How is that we keep on finding really good quality weapons and armor in the weirdest of places?"

Alistair snorted, shaking his head. He grinned down at her. "I'm surprised you'd even care," he remarked in that accent of his, "I figured you'd just count your good luck and move on," he chuckled.

Kai glared at him. "Ha. Ha. You're funny." Sarcasm was dripping from her voice.

Alistair grinned. "I do try..."

Kai rolled her eyes. "Will you put me down now?"

In response, she was gently placed on her feet. "Whew! Good thing we're getting some exercise done. You're heavier than the last time I picked you up."

Mhairi glanced over at Anders. "Seems like the rumors are true..." she whispered, apparently not soft enough as Kai and Alistair whirled around to stare at her like she grew two heads.

"Rumors?" Alistair repeated, confused.

Kai however narrowed her eyes, not liking the sound of that. "What rumors?" she asked in a dangerous tone.

Mhairi swallowed thickly. "That you...and him..." she trailed off weakly, her words suggestive enough.

Anders smirked, "Should we give you two some alone time?" he asked suggestively.

Alistair turned a beet red at the implications and Kai twitched, "Where did you hear that from?"

Mhairi cleared her throat nervously. "From your...biography?"

Alistair began laughing. "Now that is priceless!" he managed to get out, clutching his sides.

Kai's look became absolutely murderous. "I'm gonna kill someone..." she muttered.

Alistair looked over at her, still snickering. "That'll have to wait until we're finished with our weekly dismemberment, my dear," he said teasingly.

Kai growled at him, narrowing her eyes in a deadly glare. She slapped him against the chest, hard. "Shut up!"

Alistair only grinned some more, the hit doing nothing against his dragonbone heavy chainmail. He opened the door to the keep, gesturing after her. "After you, love."

Kai grumbled as she passed. She made a beeline through the room and towards the lever.

She was still irate, Alistair was still snickering, and the other two were still brimming with amusement when she pulled the lever. But all of that was forgotten when a strange dwarf came running out from the other side, waving his arms wildly and making obscene gestures.

"Great. More crazies..." Anders muttered.

Kai and Alistair snorted amusedly. "You'll get used to it, I did," Alistair remarked dryly.

Anders stared at him. "But you are crazy. She's just crazier,"

Kai smirked. "I wonder how he became this way...?" she drawled out wryly, not seeing how Alistair pointed at her from behind.

"Because stealing everything she stumbled across wasn't enough, she had to steal away my sanity too..." he shook his head ruefully.

They watched as the man yelled something about come and getting him.

Alistair shared an amused glance with his friend. "Reminds you of someone, doesn't it?"

Oghren...

Kai nodded, laughing softly.

Then a large explosion suddenly broke out, causing them all to jump.

The lot of them gaped, eyes wide. "Holy shit!" Kai blurted out, looking naturally shocked, but at the same time excited. A huge shit-eating grin began forming on her face. "That was amazing! When this is over with, I'm so asking that guy how he made something as powerful as that!" she exclaimed. "If he's still alive, of course..." she added as an afterthought.

That had her companions steering their wide eyes at her, looking at her like she just up and turned into a darkspawn.

Kai glanced over at them, noticing their looks. Blinking innocently, she spoke. "What?"

Anders shook his head at the woman, torn between staying or turning tail and never looking back. Mhairi didn't say anything, too shocked at the chain of events.

Alistair groaned in mixed exasperation and amusement, used to her. "Let's just go..."

Kai shrugged and started walking. "I wonder if I could get him to make me one of those... That would be really useful..." she mumbled under her breath.

Alistair couldn't help but shudder at the thought of that. 'Dear Maker, if you have any mercy at all, please see to it that, that never happens...' he prayed pleadingly.

Anders stared at the group walking away, deeply troubled.

'This is the Hero of Ferelden? H-how in the hell did they even survive their first day, never mind gathering an army and taking on the arch-freaking-demon? She's nuts!'

It was either leave them to fight darkspawn all on his lonesome and most likely die, or go with the pack of lunatics to fight darkspawn where he just might die...

"I'm so gonna die today..." he muttered under his breath as he started to walk.

He reluctantly began to follow the three...

-o-o-o-

They were walking down the hall, approaching a door when Kai spoke a warning. "Get ready everyone, we're about to hit a larger group..."

Mhairi and Anders shared apprehensive looks, before readying their sword and shield, and staff respectively.

No matter how she acted, she was the Commander, and she was chosen for a reason - she had to be...

Little did they know, the choice was either her, or Alistair...

Closing his eyes, Alistair concentrated. "One of them is an emissary," he informed them.

Kai sent the man a pointed look. "You know what to do then," she told him before turning to the others. "Alistair will take him out first. Anders, you stay out of the fray, or stay near Mhairi if you have too. I'll follow Alistair and cover him, you take the stragglers," she explained them, her eyes taking on a serious edge.

Anders was looking at Alistair and Kai curiously. "I can take out the emissary if you need me to?"

Kai shook her head. "Mana Clash takes a lot of mana. We're low on lyrium drafts as it is, so you need to conserve your power as much as possible," Kai must have seen Anders' shocked look because she paused and smirked. "You're not the first mage to fight with us."

Alistair just snorted. "No, he's just the first to happen to be young, male and not a bitch, and all in one too. A nice change for once..."

Kai rolled her eyes, not bothering to reply. "Alistair and I can take the emissary out easily enough."

Anders, still skeptical, shrugged. "If you think so..." he said warily.

Kai gave him a reassuring smile before grabbing her daggers. "Well let's go crash the party guys!" she shouted, barging into the room with an accompanying war cry, the group following behind her.

In a few minutes, Anders knew what they meant when Kai said they could take care of the darkspawn. How couldn't he?

He couldn't miss the deathly chill that ran down his spine even if he tried...

In mid-spell, Anders faltered as his heart practically froze, before going in hyper speed.

Templar...

As if unable to comprehend it, he whirled around as soon as he finished off the darkspawn nearest to him. Honey-hazel eyes zeroed in on the source.

Alistair.

Part him felt like he should have known.

Part of him even felt betrayed, despite the fact he only met the trio a few hours.

He had put his trust into them, and at first he thought it was well placed after many a times they seemed to miraculously appear at the right time to fend off any darkspawn that he managed to miss.

Like they were sent from the Maker himself...

Obviously, he thought that too soon...

"Anders!" Came Kai's sharp shout a ways from his spot, and he instantly became alert. "To your left! Keep focused!"

The mage whipped around, his arm already rising in mid-spell, and fire spurned from his palm to cover the hurlock two steps from chopping his head off clean. It was dead in five seconds...

Breathing harshly, Anders looked over at the woman leader, the feeling of instant gratitude filling him.

Or maybe, just maybe, he was wrong and they might be a good pair people that won't turn him in or kill him...

Either way, it would have to wait until they were not in immediate threat of death...

-o-o-o-o-

After they cleared out that room, Kai lead the group into the next to save a couple of people from the darkspawn.

And all the while, Kai couldn't help but notice the way that the mage, Anders, seemed to be distancing himself from them, particularly Alistair and herself, without making it too obvious.

Sad thing was, it was so obvious that it wasn't even funny.

The rogue didn't find out why until they were making their way through a winding hallway and Anders couldn't keep silent anymore...

"Andraste's knickerweasels!" Anders cursed loudly, causing Kai and Alistair to look at him crazily. Anders was practically inching away from Alistair, watching him like an hawk with wild wide eyes. "You're a templar!" he blurted out.

Well, that would explain why he was so damn testy before...

Kai, seeing the apparent apprehension, stepped closer. "Hey, it's alright. He's not going to smite you or anything." she told him soothingly.

It didn't really help much. "But he's a templar!"

Alistair and Kai sighed. "So you said before..." he muttered dryly, and held his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "I'm not a templar, just a ex-templar initiate. I never took my vows. I was conscripted into the Grey Wardens before that could happen, thank the maker," he droned on flatly; it wasn't the first time he'd had to explain, and each time it was never fun... "I hold no love for working for the Chantry, trust me on that," this he said with obvious relief.

"Can we move on now," Alistair wondered tiredly, waving to the door in front of them. "Besides, if I was going to smite you, I would have done it the moment you were surrounding by those templars and said you were an apostate..." he muttered under his breath.

Anders flushed sheepishly.

Kai stepped over to Anders and whispered to him. "I know we just met Anders, but trust me when I say Alistair is a gentleman with a heart of gold; he would never hurt anyone without good reason. He never even wanted to be a templar in the first place but was forced into training at ten,"

Anders bit his lip - his track record with templars was never great, but...he looked at Kai and saw the sincerity in her gaze before he nodded. They seemed like a nice sort - despite being clearly and utterly insane - and the man - Alistair, he remembered - didn't seem like the hostile type; like he said, if he was going to smite him, he would have done it much earlier... "Alright..." he mumbled, pouting.

Kai nodded, smiling slightly before composing herself. "More darkspawn ahead," she told him softly.

Alistair overheard, and shot a look with a hint of concern over to the mage. "You ready?"

It had the blond relaxing. No person as kind as them, when about to jump into the heat of battle thinks of someone else's welfare, could be cruel enough to turn on him.

Anders nodded firmly.

He would continue to trust them, for now, but it didn't mean he would be happy about it...

-o-o-o-o-

They ran into the next room, only to halt in surprise and shock at what they saw.

Both Kai and Alistair stared in amused awe as they watched a familiar dwarf hack at the darkspawn that circled him. Hearing them, the dwarf turned to look after taking a couple down, and he grinned and gave a wild wave. before turning his attention back to the darkspawn.

Grinning, Kai and Alistair ran into the fray with daggers, swords, and shields armed and ready.

With Anders and Mhairi joining shortly thereafter, the darkspawn were quickly dispatched with much hassle.

Oghren let out a loud laugh. "A-ha! There you are!" He exclaimed after running up to the railing, "When the darkspawn showed up, I thought, 'Just you wait until the new commander gets here and you'll all be spitting teeth out of your arses!' Followed the screaming, and sure enough, here you are!"

Alistair and Kai shared amused looks.

The dwarf noticed the familiar man beside Kai and he grinned. "Well, whaddya know! The pike-twirler came along the ride too, eh?"

And at the familiar nickname, Alistair turned to glare at the dwarf.

Kai smirked and put her hand on her hips in a mock-indigent manner. "Oghren, did you have something to do this?" she asked, tone wry.

Oghren merely laughed. "Thinking I may have picked up a few tricks from Brnka, eh? Nah, I just kill darkspawn, I don't train 'em."

Alistair raised an eyebrow at him. "Odd place for you to just show up, then."

Oghren snorted, cocking an eyebrow back at him. "You just showed up. I've been here almost a week, now," he retorted gruffly. "Came here thinking I might try my hand at becoming a bona fide Grey Warden," he explained with a grin.

"He was here when I left, " and Mhairi shook her head. "I'm surprised they didn't kick him out," she muttered.

Kai's eyes narrowed. Alistair almost smiled at seeing this, but didn't want to ruin the moment. Kai waited, observing.

Oghren's gaze flickered to the female warrior and he chuckled. "Well, well. If it isn't the recruit with the great rack!" he exclaimed, winking luridly.

Mhairi narrowed her eyes in distaste. "Yes. A prize for the Wardens to be sure..." she muttered, frowning.

Oghren never fazed, taking it with stride as he snickered. "I know, I know, too good to be true, right?" Then he saw Anders standing there, taking it all in. He raised a ginger eyebrow at the lanky mage. "Heyy-who's the mage?" His eyes flickered back to Mhairi, and his eyebrows waggling up and down. "Boyfriend? Should I leave you two alone?" he asked suggestively.

Anders snorted, rolling his eyes. "Wow, a dwarf that smells like a brewery. You never see that anywhere," he remarked sarcastically.

Oghren smirked, amused. "Huh. A mage comedian. Thought those normally die young," he retorted back just as smoothly and sarcastically.

Kai snickered silently, but frowned when she heard Mhairi's distasteful sniff.

"The Wardens would be stupid to kick out a fine man like Oghren out..." Kai trailed off, schooling a casual tone.

Mhairi stared at her in confusion, and Anders switched between looking at Alistair and Kai, sensing that there was more to the story. "Why?" Mhairi asked.

Kai crossed her arms and gave Oghren a pointed look. "Well, because he's one of the four that fought against the archdemon atop of Fort Drakon of course. Not to mention, he dealt the blow that weakened the dragon enough for the final blow to be dealt. Duh."

Mhairi gasped, looking properly abashed as she stared at Oghren in shock.

Oghren stared at Kai, smiling genuinely with a hint of pride and gratitude shining in his eyes.

Alistair, however, started snickering. "Some Commander you are - what kind of boss says 'Duh'." he mimicked in a ridiculously high voice in a poor imitation of her.

Kai reached over and this time smacked him over the head. "The kind that can clearly kick your arse if you disobey her, 'subordinate'," she said with mock seriousness.

Alistair just pouted. "Why do you always hit me?" he said exasperatedly

Kai ignored him, turning over to Oghren. Her face turned serious as she regarded her old friend. "You know there are risks to joining the Grey Wardens, right?" she asked him gravely, making sure he knew before he risked his life.

This wasn't some random recruit. It was Oghren, for Andraste's sake. If she lost him...

Oghren only scoffed, giving her a grin. "There are risks to getting up in the morning. I piss on risk," he boasted, but gave her a serious nod all the same.

Anders snorted, "I'm sure risk appreciates it..." he muttered, before raising an eyebrow at the spectacle before him and clearing out his throat pointedly.

"I hate to interrupt this..." he paused, eyeing them (and their very pointy weapons) warily as he tried to find the right words - it wouldn't do to get stabbed just yet. "...enlightening moment, but in case you've forgotten - the darkspawn?" he mentioned, trying to hold down a laugh at their shameful faces.

Kai straightened, adjusting her hold on her sword and dagger, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Er, yeah, of course. Let's go then." she muttered, moving forward.

Alistair and Oghren snickered after her.

-o-o-o-o-

The addition of Oghren to the group made things all the more easier to make their way through the rest of the Keep. Oghren was in the lead as Kai and Alistair took up the rear.

They made their way through a hall, which was clear of all darkspawn, or alive ones anyhow. Dead beasts scattered the hall and only one was left alive: Roland.

Through the solemn scene of Roland sharing his last words with his long-time student Mhairi, they found out some disturbing news. It was dismissed of course, since the man was already mad from the corruption, but it brought chills down their spines nonetheless.

Kai looked over at the young woman, eyes filled with regret. She knew what it was like to lose family, and people who might as well be despite relation of blood, and if she could have saved him, she would. But he was just too far gone...

Kai sent Alistair a thankful glance when she felt the weight of his gauntlet-covered hand clutch her shoulder. "I know what you're thinking..." he whispered, so the others in front wouldn't hear. "Even if he wasn't so gone, we don't have the time...nor the supplies. There was no way..."

Kai let out a short, soft, but bitter laugh. "Doesn't change how I feel. This job really does suck sometimes..."

A squeeze to her shoulder was all Alistair gave her, and it was all she needed.

The two never noticed the way hazel eyes were cast back from a certain man' shoulder. Nor the way his eyebrows furrowed as he overheard the whole conversation. His eyes flickered with realization.

Maybe they weren't so crazy after all...

-o-o-o-o-

When they entered the Keeps battlements, the sounds of talking came to their ears and eerie whispers slinked through both Alistair and Kai's minds, a clear indication of darkspawn about.

The two Wardens shared a confused look. Why were there talking and yet not fighting...?

"Wait..." Kai murmured to the group, halting them. "Something's wrong. I don't think Roland was as delirious as we thought..."

Anders and Mhairi shared a collective gasp That would mean...

Oghren nearly growled, he faced too many darkspawn to be put off by this news. "So they talk, doesn't make 'em invincible."

Alistair snorted.

Kai's lips twitched up in a smile. "Still, be careful. And quiet." She slowly pulled out her weapons, gesturing for them to do the same.

Oghren rolled his eyes.

Alistair cocked an eyebrow her way. "Sneak attack." It was more of a statement than a question, and more for the benefit for the other two who weren't used to Kai's tactics.

Kai cocked an eyebrow right back at him. "This is me we're talking about," she retorted cheekily.

As they snuck closer, they came just in time to freeze at the sight and sound of barely literate words coming from a darkspawn right as he pushed a soldier off the edge of the Vigil's battlements.

"It has ended just as he foretold." came a calm, rough voice that grated against their senses.

It actually talked!

Chills ran down Alistair and Kai's spines - what in the Maker is happening?

"There it is!" Mhairi breathed out, horrified.

They watched as the darkspawn turned as they came closer, now turning it's attention to the man they could finally see once they turned the corner. The man, clad in silverite armor, was on his knees, a sword at his neck.

"Be taking this one, gently. We are wishing no more dead than is necessary."

They watched as the man sneered at the darkspawn, unafraid. "Necessary? As if your kind has done anything else," he spat out.

The grating voice turned dismissive and haughty. "You are thinking you know of our kind, human? It is understandable. But that will soon be changed."

"Others will come, creature! They will stop you!" the human shouted with genuine conviction.

Anders blinked in shock and wonder. "It is talking!" he exclaimed wildly under his breath.

Alistair and Kai scowled darkly, fury taking the place of their shock.

Kai looked over at Alistair, a wry eyebrow cocked his way. "Awhh, now you can have the tea party you always dreamed of," she murmured grimly.

Alistair's lips twitched. "Yes, a dream come true..." he droned on flatly before shaking his head. "You really need to work on your timing Kai - discovering that Darkspawn can actually talk is not the time to crack a joke."

Anders looked at the two incredulously.

He was wrong - these two were out of their freaking minds!

Kai smiled tightly as she made the signal to rush in and Oghren growled. "Well, let's shut it up already!" Oghren shouted out harshly, announcing their presence.

The darkspawn whirled around at Oghren's yell to stare the group impassively. "It seems your words be true, more than you are guessing," he murmured.

At their presence, the older man was able to turn somewhat and look at them. Obvious relief shined brightly in his eyes. "Commander!"

The talking darkspawn, the one that appeared to be the leader glared at them. "Capture the Grey Wardens. These others, they may be killed." he ordered.

And so the, fight began.

-o-o-o-o-

As soon as it was over, Kai pulled out her dagger from The Withered and moved over to the older man.

Alistair was already over there, helping him up. The older man gave Alistair a grateful nod before turning over to Kai. "Commander, I owe you my life."

Before she could say anything, he glanced over, something in the distance catching his attention. He stepped over, peering at the Keep's entrance. "Hmm..." he sounded out curiously. "Soldiers on the road. It seems we have more company." he muttered. "Hopefully they're more hospitable than our previous guests." he remarked dryly.

Horns blared in the distance and Alistair and Kai groaned simultaneously, familiar with said horns.

The queen...

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Words- 3,857

So yep, more in-game dialogue and action, but with some tweaking and add-in's this time. I'll try to deviate from the actual game more often, make it more interesting lol. Shouldn't have much of a problem, seeing how I'll be focusing in on Kai and Anders' relationship, not to mention Alistair's presence changes things of course.

This my Christmas present to all of you faithful readers! I made sure to get this all done before today ended. And I made it! Lol. XD

Don't forget to tell me what you think! ^^

Again, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, and Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays to everyone else! XD

Till next time,

RainLily^^

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-Reviews-

A huge thanks to everyone who alerted, faved, and of course reviewed this fic. It really means a bunch to me! XD

Eva Galana- Awhhh thank you so much! XD AS for a hint a jealousy on Alistair's part, maybe... ;) The glaring was also for being a mage, who coincidentally was surrounded by dead templars too, not to mention cracking jokes about it too hahah ^^ As soon as the part in the Keep is finished, and the group deals with Anora, there will be plenty of things happening that didn't in the game, trust me! XDD