AN: So sorry for the hiatus - it wasn't planned! So happy to return to this story, finally!

A recap is needed: Talita da Motta is a Templar trainee from Rivain, assigned on her very first mission to accompany a Chantry delegation to Ferelden. En route, storms caused by the emerging Blight assail them and Talita, along with Juca (a talented mage in her company) finds herself stranded on the shores of cold, rainy Ferelden. Despite having been betrayed by Talita's commanding officer and left in the sea for dead, the two survive against the odds, fighting off a small group of Dalish looters and fleeing into the Brecilian Forest. The Forest is hardly welcoming to the two Rivaini city dwellers, and Talita is beginning to wonder if they will survive.

Talita's story explores what it means for her to be a proper Templar and how she finds the strength to do so against a hierarchy set against her, and against the mage she is falling in love with.

Fleeing from the latest threat, haunted Sylvan trees, they fall into a steep ravine and Talita has sustained some injuries. Before they can do more than shake off their surprise, a giant man, who'd obviously been walking along the ravine itself, holds them at swordpoint. After observing their mud-covered, pitiful state, however, he bursts into laughter...

Chapter 22: A Giant Rescue

The giant man sighed once more, the last of his mirth spent, before clearing his throat and pointing his sword in our direction. "Well then," he began. "Where were we? Oh, yes! Who are you and what are you doing here?" His eyes narrowed, "Dalish-murdering foreigners, I see."

It looked bad; we had geared ourselves rather extensively in the Dalish gear. Juca spoke before I could organize an answer, "We are shipwrecked travelers, serrah, waylaid by the local elves upon the shore…"

"You defeated the Dalish? Yourselves?" he asked. Although his tone was laced with disbelief, I noticed that he gripped his sword more tightly.

"There were other survivors on the shore with us," Juca explained. I marveled; everything he said was technically true. "Sadly, they did not survive the attack. This woman here," he nodded at me, "is all that remains of the Chantry delegation assigned to escort me-"

"Escort you?" the big man questioned. I questioned as well. I tried to meet Juca's gaze. Certainly he would not reveal that he was a mage! I tensed, expecting more trouble. "And who, exactly, ARE you that you need escorting?"

"Oh! Forgive me, good ser," Juca began, as he stood up, with some difficulty, from the muck. He began to brush off the black slop, "My name is Carlos, and I am a Chantry scholar here to study the amazing flora and fauna of this grand forest-"

"Flora and fauna?" the man questioned.

"Er, yes. Plants and animal life."

"Is that so? Are you some sort of expert, then?"

"Well, not yet, serrah. But a task begun is a task half done, yes?"

The swordsman blinked.

Juca hurried on, "I intend to write a book on the subject and present it to the Divine herself!"

"The Divine, eh? Well then…"

The giant seemed to enjoy Juca's tale despite himself. Suddenly, he frowned again, as if remembering that he should not trust strangers. He reached over and plucked a bunch of herb-looking plants. "So, scholar, what is this plant?" he questioned.

"I…have no idea," Juca confessed. When it looked as if we'd lost the man's trust, however, my mage continued, "But, it LOOKS very much like henstooth. Yet it is not, for the shape of the leaf is not quite right, you see?" Juca took a cautious step toward the giant, pointing to the offending plant. "I would be careful of it, serrah, it may be poisonous."

The giant dropped the plant. "Aye, I see that now."

"But THIS plant over here," Juca countered, pointing, "is elfroot. And, if you will allow it, my escort and I will use it to create some healing potions for us to share."

The giant man thought on this and nodded, "Fair enough," he decided. He glanced again in my direction. My legs, I realized, were quite numb from the freezing water. There was mud in places I did not want to contemplate.

"And what is your name?" he asked.

Before I could answer, Juca said, "Ah, my good man, allow me to present my companion, Rosa del Jardinia…"

I hid my scowl as best I could. "Pleased to meet you," I said.

I was going to kill that mage.

-XOXOXOXOXOX-

The man's name was Bendig, and once he had decided not to kill us, he was quite pleasant. My injuries were worse than I'd thought; the ankle was useless and I twisted something badly in my shoulder. Juca, or Carlos as I had to remember to call him, helped to splint my ankle and Bendig lifted me from the ravine floor as if I were a child.

To my immense embarrassment, he had decided to carry me.

I tried to protest. "Serrah! I…thank you, but I could make a crutch, and-"

"Nonsense, little lady! We'll get you to a fire and get this seen to."

I glanced over Bendig's shoulder and frowned at Juca, who had found my sword and was using it to harvest more of the elfroot before we moved on too far. He met my gaze with a twinkle in his eye and a mocking bow. He was enjoying this! Maker!

As the momentary heat from my anger dissipated, the throbbing of my ankle and the deep cold that had set into my muscles made me shiver. Bendig glanced down at me. He had brown eyes that were, I could see now, kindly, despite his formidable and threatening size. "Don't worry, young lady. Everything will be all right."

I blushed. Did he think me some fair maiden in distress? Did he not see my armor? Embarrassing as it was, I was grateful for his help, so I bit back my customary response.

We traveled for slightly less than an hour. I could see no defined trail which led to Bendig's home, and I wondered through my increasingly pain-hazed mind how anyone found his way in a place without street signs. It was a surprise when we arrived; a sturdy home built snugly between two forested hills, and huge, mossy-trunked trees surrounded it on all sides. It was the sort of place we could have passed by within a few dozen yards and missed, if we didn't know what we were looking for.

A large brown bear rose up as we approached. In hindsight, I suppose this was the real surprise. It snarled and pawed the air warningly. The sound jolted me from the semi-slumber I'd slipped into. Bendig, however, continued his pace unerringly. "Easy girl!" he said to the bear. "We have company! Behave!"

"Is she tame?" Juca asked, from behind us. A bit nervously, I thought.

"I wouldn't say that," Bendig replied. "But she knows friend from foe."

"And how, exactly, can I show her I want to be friends?" Juca asked.

Bendig chuckled. "Stay close to me, she won't give you any trouble. Maybe later, you can bring her some fish. She likes fish the best."

Juca noted his words with a nod. He cautiously moved ahead at Bendig's signal and opened the oversized cabin door for us to enter.

The simple home was built with huge timbers and the space was open and functional. Best of all, it was warm and dry! Andraste as my witness, I'd forgotten what it was like not to be chilled and damp. He set me down with great care on an oversized stool before a large hearth.

Juca also was looking around the place as if trying to recall what civilization felt like.

The bear thrust her head inside the open doorway and watched us with several unhappy grumbles. Bendig, however, was ignoring her. He was grabbing a few large pieces of firewood and tossing them onto the bed of coals within the fireplace. I watched as the grey-topped coals flared red from the heat within and began immediately to smoke the dry wood. It wasn't long before flames flickered and began to lick the fuel eagerly. THIS was a proper fire! Before coming to Ferelden, I don't think I had ever appreciated the art before.

My ankle ached. Although Juca had fashioned a splint, of sorts, around my booted foot, the swelling was such now that I felt the intense pressure of it. I tried my best to ignore it.

Juca had set down our wet things (we were making a muddy mess of the man's home!) and come to warm his hands by the fire. "Don't worry, bonita," he said. "I have everything I need to make several potions."

He had rinsed his face in the stream, but the cut along his cheek was still red and swollen. I studied his face. "You'll need one yourself," I said, then more quietly. "Do you trust him, Carlos ?" I asked.

He knew what I meant. If he did trust him, then why the deception?

"I believe that he is an honest man," Juca answered. "As we know, unfortunately, not all men are honest, these days."

He meant Everado! I blinked. Certainly, the Seadance had been lost in the storm. And even if it had not been, the Knight-Captain would certainly think us dead and gone….yet, even so, if Everado had been planning to meet with friends in Gwaren, could there be enemies there, already waiting for us?

I stared at Juca. I hadn't thought of that. Perhaps it was paranoia to assume such things, but the more I considered his words, the more a growing dread began to form within. And the longer it took us to reach Gwaren, the more likely it would be that someone there might just want to have words with he and I.

At that moment, Bendig returned, having chivied the bear out of the doorway, carrying a two huge buckets of water. Juca moved out of the way and Bendig poured one of the buckets into a black pot and swung an iron arm to move the pot over the fire. "Here's water for washing up, and some to start your potions, if needed…" he explained. Juca nodded that yes, it would be needed. "I'll have fresh stew on the outside pit ready soon."

With that, the giant left us, and closed the door.

Juca smiled evilly. "Certainly, bonita, you will need some help getting ready for your bath, yes?"

"You wouldn't…" I said, trying to believe it. I glanced at the closed door, and back to Juca. He was already gently unfastening the wet and stiff leather of the shoulder guards. My shoulder was bruised and sore, yet his touch was skillfully tender. "Brother Carlos …" I reminded him. Chantry brother, the role he was playing. Oaths.

Juca only chuckled. "Brother Carlos is sworn to explore ALL of the wonders of Thedas," he purred, learning closer, lips against my ear, "Wherever he may find them."

I shivered. I was about to be repaid for last night, I was certain. The pain in my ankle seemed more distant as I worried what exactly Juca had in mind….

AN - More, soon! Eventually, these two may warrant a scene which will certainly venture much farther toward an "M" rating - fair warning. I will try not to completely cross that line, however. Perhaps a one-shot chapter outside of the main story? Thoughts?