[Rosekitten]

Volke shrugged a little at her saying don't take it to heart. "If I took every insult I heard to heart I think I would have jumped off the highest building I could find by now." True enough, though that was probably the reason most city elves were a bit bitter to say the least against other races. Besides he was rather use to most of the templars disapproving that he was taken as one of the commanders pets to train. Though that could also be because he actually worked really hard at his training, it got him a safe distance from having to worry of going to the slums of a alienage so he wasn't the type to mess that chance up.

This was when he was going to say sorry for her loss but who knew when that even happened. Plus she seemed to pull a 360 as she spoke of her name she was given and soon enough put her hand out to shake. Yeah he didn't trust her that much to say the least. There were too many spells that required contact to work. The last thing he was doing was giving her a free shot.

Once more the - Melissa spoke up saying that they would have to get along sooner or later. Well probably true. Darkspawn didn't give up so easily and his supplies he had enough for a day maybe two between the pair of them. As she seemed to giggle he finally glared at her. "Pretty sure I could manga... this isn't the first time of having to deal with darkspawn." Though it normally didn't go this badly either. These ones seemed smarter.. that was a scary thought.

About to say something else was when her stomach seemed to take over the talking. Well if that didn't get rid of the mood currently. She went on explaining that she hadn't eaten in a while.. By that noise he believed it. Not only that but most mages that were on the run so to speak didn't eat well anyway. Getting a job that paid was difficult to say the least for them. This was when she seemed to grab the bar as they vanished. He had a idea it was just a cloaking spell as she explained it to him. Though as she let go and spoke her terms he had to laugh a little.

"I get to live to see another day huh? I have enough supplies if rationed out could last one person a week." It would be a long and miserable week but still it could be possible and he had made them last that long before. "But for the fact I don't feel like staying in here a week nor watching someone die of starvation as you seem to be doing at the moment..." Taking a stab at the noise her stomach seemed to make before. Though he paused and seemed to actually think of this before he breathed out. "Fine... You get us both out of here and I leave you alone for the day." A truce, a short truce but a truce none the less. "I can't promise anything past that as unlike some here others of us have orders that have to be followed."

Unlocking the cell door he watched her a moment before handing the bottle over. "Cross me and I swear the next arrow won't miss." He meant it too, he wouldn't think twice about a arrow sticking out of her skull to say the least. Or a blade either one worked for him. Though he did seem a bit distraught at having agreed to this. Working with a mage... what was the world coming to? The commanders would have his head if they knew, no questions asked. Though Volke was hardly a fool, even with a weeks supply of food and water darkspawn could just wait this place out. Not giving up on their chase so easily.

[Natsunaine]

Soon enough after she had spoken about taking things to heart the elf Volke, Seemed to almost instantly respond in a defensive manner, It almost made Melissa wonder if the Elf really did take things to heart. "Well, I would just hate to see you jump of a high building" Of course being how Melissa is, This statement was full of nothing but sarcasm.

The next thing to come up in the conversation was how 'experienced' the elf was with dealing with Darkspawn, Little did he know that Melissa had to deal with them on almost on a daily basis, Some times more then once, and she was sure to let Volke know that..

"Look, Mister high and mighty, You are not the only one to deal with these awful creatures. Being hunted, the only places you are usually able to find to sleep are in the open. There are nights that us mages have to stay up for hours on end just to make sure we stay safe."

It was strange, how quickly Melissa's mood could change, almost as if she had reservoir of emotions built up and ready to go for when she needed them. "I know more that anyone that they don't give up unless they either fall or get their prey. So even if you did leave me to starve your life would only last the week.. "

Melissa smirked with a cocky and playful look as she heard the hinges unlock and pry open, It wasn't long after that the elf made a threat towards her. She giggled and patted him on the shoulder being careful not to show she was being harmful, because well she wasn't.

"It's okay pointy ears, I wouldn't dream of risking my freedom and my life before getting to see my big sister again.." Apparently, By saying big sister in her mind Melissa was thinking for Morrigan, but it was obvious by the weird expression she got from the elf that he was confused. It was okay though, because Melissa like confusing Volke, it made a smile appear on her face.

She giggled a bit as she looked towards the elf, Knowing very well her next statement was going to make the elf's skin crawl. "There is one catch though elfy boy, I have to make contact for the spell to work." As the words slipped from her mouth you could almost see the agony of hate in the elves eyes almost as though he guess that, but was hoping he was wrong.

After conversing back and forth a few times over the subject, Melissa took the lyrium from the elf and drank half of it only to throw it back at Volke, thankfully the quick Elf reflexes Volke had helped him catch it before it hit the floor. "That half is for you, I know how Templars are with their lyrium withdraws"

She giggled and place her hand into the elves hand, Gripping it tight. Wait.. Was Melissa blushing? She was, though she was in quick denial of it, her mind coming up with various reasons of why her face would be red. Such excuses as fatigue, or the cave being hot, or tons of other ridiculous and almost childish reasons.

Soon enough, the Foxkin mustered up enough energy, and shortly after she quickly casted the spell, the bodies of the two completely vanishing to the naked eye without a trace.. Melissa quickly spoke up and giggled, looking to the other elf. "As you can probably tell, Those in the spell can see those who are cloaked, This spell was actually made for Scouting information for armies, back when mages weren't hunted.. "

She smiled and looked towards the door that had been keeping themselves. "Though once we get outside we must be quiet, This spell does not mask sounds louder than footsteps." She tugged on the elf's arm gently as if excited to leave. "Come on Volke lets go already, I have to use the 24 hours to run away as far as I can before the big bad elf comes after me. "

[Rosekitten]

"Oh i'm sure you WOULD hate to see that." His thoughts on how there was a number of mages who would be glad to hear a templar did himself in. Ok that wasn't too uncommon actually. Taking your own life or losing it to a mage was better then the waiting. After a certain point there wasn't a return path. Mages could handle lyrium due to the magic in them. Normal folk could not, as this fact was true after so long most templars went crazy to make a long story short. Mad from the lyrium, such a fate they forget to tell you when you sign up to be a templar.

Listening to her say he was high and mighty he huffed a little. Like he had such a easy life. Mages were not the only ones with hardships that was for sure. But at the moment he cared little about fighting with her over this. No he had already made the choice to accept her help to get out of here so the sooner that happened the better. Though already he was second guessing this as she patted his shoulder and he flinched back a little. He had been around blood mages before... taking chances wasn't a wise choice.

This was when she seemed to speak of her big sister. Yeah he did give her a odd look, that was a heck of a thing to call the witch of the wilds. to each their own he hardly cared if she wanted to go seek out the jaws of that beast so be it. He almost wanted to groan as she said she had to make contact for the spell to work on both. His look was almost one of pain. He could guess that but he did pray to the maker he was wrong for once.

He was still debating on taking back this offer when she tossed the half empty bottle towards him and he barely caught it where he wasn't paying attention. His ears went back a little annoyed she mentioned it. "Oh yeah.. it's fun I swear." He spoke with a bit of a smirk knowing he was lying. Fun.. yeah try feeling like your body was trying to reject itself if you thought that was fun by all means. Some tried to break free of the want and need for lyrim but it normally never ended well. That or they went crazy sooner then normal.

Though the mage never gave him a chance to protest further to this as she grabbed his hand. If he noticed her blush he never thought anything of it. Odds were it was fatigue. Melissa seemed to explain that those cloaked could see one another and it was used back when mages weren't hunted. Yeah well.. that was some time ago. A lot of things were different some time ago to be honest. "Yeah well... don't expect things to go back to those ways." He didn't really mean it in a cruel way but it was the truth.

Either way she seemed excited to get out of here as she tugged on his arm. He rolled his eyes a little at her saying what she had to do. "Not sure I'd go out of my way to personally track you down.." He said almost flatly, really he never went out of his way to hunt any of the mages. Unless it was one that was disrupting the peace of he town. Though with that they both agreed it was time to go as she lead the way after the door was unbarred and opened.

Once outside of the cave the area was crawling with darkspawn. Even if they both had fought out here they wouldn't have lasted but so long. The numbers were more then he had ever seen in one place like this. Was there some attack plan or something from the beasts? He'd get word to the commander either way once he was back in the city. Give the report as to what happened to the other templars and go about his business.

They had to walk a good while, ending up back where the templars had fallen before they were free of the darkspawn range. This was when she let the spell drop once they were sure the coast was clear. She seemed pleased enough they were free of that craziness. Saying a few words before she started to walk off he stopped her. "Hey." He started as she seemed to pause before he threw a small purse at her. "Before you cause the next great quake with your stomach eh?" Wait he just cracked a joke, that was rare at best.

[Natsunaine]

It wasn't long after Melissa had spoken about spell and its history that Volke shot her down by telling her not to hope for change to the old ways. It made her heart heavy at first, but as the usual Melissa it didn't take long for her to change her attitude to a positive one.

"I would like to think that someday, Mages and Templars could maybe get along, I remember in the circle, that there were several groups of Templar who treated us well and loves us, as we loved them.. One of them was my father Olaf, but they are gone now I guess, Maybe your right.. Maybe we have no hope.."

A single tear dropped down her face onto the ground and it was then that made things apparent that Melissa wasn't changing emotions quickly.. No, She was masking the sad truth with playful lies, She was always sad, always scared and always alone.. Masking her feelings with false hope and happiness was the only thing that kept her sane.. Well.. As sane as Melissa could possible be..

She almost wanted to frown when Volke had informed her he had no intention of hunting her down, For some reason she found his company, As threatening and mean as he was, She found it, Comforting. Quickly the foxkin shook the thought from her mind and spouted off a quick remark, trying to mask the compliment within it. "Well, Since you are the best Templar around I guess I won't have to worry about getting caught, Considering the other options are meager at best."

A giggled escaped her throat after throwing out the smart mouth, As they stepped out into the open, Melissa dragging Volke behind her, there were Darkspawn as far as%e wasn't going to show it to Volke. Her arms became sweaty, and all she could do was pray to who ever she could that her father would save her.. Ya right...

Before she knew it they were by the dead bodies of the Fallen Templar and within a safe hiding distance from the Dark spawn horde, She decided that in order to save her magic, this would be a good time to drop the spell and so she did. "Well, Volke, It was nice meeting you.. Maybe we will meet up some day, Not as enemies but acquaintances"

The Foxkin smiled and turned around letting go of the others hands, Beginning to walk away, but only after a few steps she was stopped by the Templars voice. He had thrown to her a bag of gold, and made a witty remark towards her. It took all the effort in her body to resist from crying in tears of joy. She could finally have some food.. "Thank you Volke, This was so nice of you, I will repay you some day.."

Melissa bowed in appreciation, She bent over to the one Templar that had died from the arrow in his throat and pulled a small short sword from his waist. "Becareful, and don't let any mage kill you while you are a Templar, If anything that's my job." She giggled and without another word walked away disappearing in a near by forest patch.

A while had past, and over her shoulder she could no longer see the image of the Templar walking away towards who knows where, It was cold, the sun still deciding whether or not it wanted to set made Melissa think it was time to start building a fire. She wondered about the woods collecting fire wood and a place to sleep, A cry of despair left her lungs as she stumbled on a cave.. No, not just any cave, but the same cav20cave.. No, not just any cave, but the same cavtes of the squeal escaped her throat, A large group of Dark spawn head fled towards her direction spouting things in there language that didn't sound to helpful to the foxkin.. In panic the women ran, flailing through the forest like a lost child. Again, she prayed to her father, Hell, she even prayed to Volke, Hoping that something would come and help her...

As she approached a small embankment, the sound of a Familiar voice filled the air.. "Melissa, My child, I am here come to me take my hand.." Within seconds tears of joyed filled her eyes, She turned to see what in her mind was her Templar Father Olaf, Standing in The high Golden Templar armor that only the most respected Templars received, Little did the women know that, The man was a trick set in her mind by a fade demon, The demon had twisted her mind and her mind only to see what she wanted the most... Her father...

"Father, Is it really you? Daddy..?" Tears dropped heavily from her face, so much that she could have created a new river with them, She slowly walked closer and closer to the demon. As it coaxed her to come closer and closer. "Yes, My little Beautiful baby girl, It is me. Come, Come to my side, and I shall protect you forever more.."

Melissa's steps became lighter and faster, closer and closer she did come to the creature that had twisted her mind, She wanted desperately to be by her fathers side once more, She wanted to be back in the circle.. She wanted a safe and happy life..
Things quickly went from good to hideously bad as she reached arm length of the beast. It quickly grabbed her and slammed her into a tree.

"YOU MAGE CHILD! YOU WILL LET ME IN! OR I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND..." At first, the women was confused, I mean anyone in her situation would be, Though it didn't take her long to figure out that this was a trick induced by a demon from the fade, she cringed as it demanded to posses her in exchange for her life. Without thought without emotion the women quickly struck back with a line of rage.

"Listen to me and listen well, I will NEVER let one of you in, I would rather die, NO! scratch that I would rather be slain by a Templar where I stand than fall to your temptation's, So kill me, Kill me now where I stand, No one will miss me and, the dark spawn will have my body for fodder, What will that get you? NOTHING!"

Melissa struggle under the grip of the beast as she flailed and tried to kick the beast off of her, but to no avail, she couldn't. It wasn't long before she began gasping for air as the demon gripped its grimy claws around her neck squeezing for the intent to kill. "Fool... You will die here for your idiocy.."

With the last of her breathe, Melissa simply muttered the words. "Then so be it.." Her eyesight became black as she became closer and closer to death thoughts of disappointment and things she had yet to do filled her mind, and before to long the consciousness of the women slowly fadded under the grip of the demon.. Was this the end?

[Rosekitten]

He shook his head a bit. "I'd rather you didn't." He had a point really, a mage owing a templar that just was bad all around. The less they crossed paths the better honestly. Either way she seemed to walk off after that and he thought he probably wouldn't see her any more. Little did he know his troubles for the day had just begun. In fact he didn't really have any troubles till now and he was soon to find that out as the world he was use to would soon be something he needed to escape from.

A pair of templars looking for the group that should have reported back hours ago happened to see Volke and the mage, hearing the last bit of the conversation as the bodies lay there. Oh yes that looked more then bad. Either way they had moved already to report this to the commander. The very place Volke was going to willingly. Halfway through the city was when he knew something was up as his ears went back as he was approached by a few city guard and a couple templar.

" ...?" He waited for someone to explain what this was about as one finally spoke up. "Volke Esteed?" Was the question as Volke had this unimpressed look at that. "Yes?" Last he knew he was the only elf in the Templars.. they had to honestly ask? "You are wanted for being an acquaintance to a mage and aiding in the death of your fellow Templars." The look on Volke's face would have been priceless as he almost gawked at this. "I -what? Surely you can't be serious I was about to report -" He was cut off as one of the guards grabbed one of his hands and started to force it behind his back. "My advise is to come quietly and they might cut you some slack .. elf." Oh yeah slack for a elf?! That was almost a sick joke. "By whos order is this!?" He demanded complying for the moment. "The commanded herself." Oh that was not good, he might as well be dead in the water if this information had traveled that far.

His mind raced for a few seconds before he settled that going along with this meant he was going to die. You didn't get out of the templars hold once they had you. The chantry did not like letting their lose ends just go about so freely. This was when he settled that for once following orders was not going to happen and he would rather live then to be killed for something untrue. Yes he worked with a mage but it was to report the hoard of darkspawn outside of the town. Forcing the one guard back finally he never drew his blade as he glared at the small group as he backed up. "I didn't kill them.. if you would just listen to -" Though one of the guards was already yelling for backup as Volke straightened a little before deciding now was the time if any to run. "Tsk.. damn it." He hissed before he moved and managed to stay clear of the guards all the way to the slums of the city.

To admit he was winded and he knew he had to get rid of this armor. His mind was scattered as he tried to sort a way to get out of this mess. Nothing came to mind. In a days time there would be posted up for his capture or knowing the templars dead or alive was a better term. The good news was that he did know a few areas in this city from being here for years. His first stop was a small black market armory. Someone Volke had conversed with a number of times. A dealer that knew how to get lyrium as well as some of the better armor on this side of the town. Right away the man seemed to say he hadn't done any dealings and that the templars could leave him the hell alone.

"I'm not here on report or order, I'm here on business and I need the order placed now." The man seemed to stand there a moment in shock before the armor that Volke had removed before coming in here was put on the counter. "This will be hard to match in value you know.. templar armor is some pretty high grade material and-" "And I just need something, equal or not." This made the older man grin a bit before filling out this order as best as he could. Soon returning from the back room as he put the replacement armor down. "They'll find you, ya know this." Volke grinned a little testing each of the pieces before being settled on the deal. "And they'll have a fight on their hands."

He might have been a lapdog all of these years but now he was a cornered one and he was going to bear fangs. Once things were settled he left the shop, armor equipped he looked like your average traveler at the moment, and this town got plenty of those. Nothing fancy about the armor or shield he carried, even changing out the sword and bow for different ones to further aid this. Though in the deal he did get a few bottles of lyurim as well. Apparently a rogue templar was something approved of. No wonder here... they ruled with a iron fist. Either way this would get him out of the city till things calmed down. He had some more supplies at the inn he kept a room at but going there at the moment was a dangerous move and over all it might be a good idea to just leave it.

That sucked he thought as he walked through the slums and figuring what gate to use to get out of here. He had what little coin he carried on him, anything extra was in the room. It was like starting over again and to be honest he didn't want to. Being a elf and now a rogue templar, when did he tick the maker off enough to bestow this fate? It took a while but he finally managed to sneak from the city and into the near-by forest. He could camp for the night somewhere and try to rest and think things over in the morning. At the moment his mind was a wreck as he wasn't sure what to even do.

As it started to get darker and he walked longer in the forest was when he noticed a clearing ahead. Though it was the voices that drew him in further. One of them he seemed to recall from somewhere. Getting closer or as close as he could without tipping himself off he saw it was a fade demon. Of all the things to run into... wait was that Melissa? Listening a moment was when he heard something that did make him respect her a bit more. Most mages would have caved and let the demon win. She was even willing to let a templar kill her over that.

Though time was short and he knew that as he heard who forced her last words were as the demon seemed to grip her neck more. Drawing a blade was when he finally moved making it easily up to the demon who was caught off guard as he swung the blade and severing the one arm that had a hold on Melissa. The hand soon releasing it's grip on her neck. "Aye .. something will be dying 'ere but it won't be the girl." Yes it had been that long of a day that he didn't care enough to hide any accent he had. Before he had no hint of one and talked just as anyone from this area would. This time around probably gave away a good hint of where he was from or at least his parents.

The demon seemed to catch Melissa off guard and that was the only reason it got that close. Other then that it seemed to be a weaker one that was just feeding off of her emotions. The battle seemed quick as he pulled the blade back from the body that slowly faded int ash as he panted a little. Dawning on him that Melissa could have still been killed after all of that as he went to where she still was. Her back against the tree and trying to gasp air back into her lungs as she was on the ground sitting.Kneeling next to where she was he waited a moment as she seemed to recover a bit. "Oye, you alright?"

[Natsunaine]

As the color faded from her eyes and her consciousness slipped away, Melissa thought of many things, She though about her life, About her 'sister' Morrigan and how she would never see her again.. She though of how disappointed her father would be, And for some odd reason..

She thought of Volke and how what he would say if she for being slain like this.. It would probably be something like. "You beat for Templars and a horde of Dark spawn and were a big pain in my neck! Yet you get beat by a demon!?! How pathetic" It almost saddened her in her last moments that she would never see or hear the elf again..

Suddenly, the sound of a accented voice filled the air, it was oddly familiar but who the hell was it, Before she knew it, The arm that was holding her was quickly severed her body flying to the ground with a hard 'Thud' as she made contact with the dirt. The Pain was horrid as air quickly flooded into her lungs, Melissa quickly gasped for air.

Her vision become more and more clear as she heard the sounds of battle around her and when she could finally see it was an elf... Wait.. No.. It couldn't be? Volke?!! AGAIN!?! Melissa was confused on what to feel, she didn't know whether to feel happy to see him, or pissed off that she saved her life AGAIN.

As the man walked forward to her and spoke, all Melissa could think of where the events that lead to this situation, Her emotions had overwhelmed her, and the demon fooled her into thinking.. Wait a minute.. Could it be?! NO, Volke left and went back to the Templars, and on further inspection this "Volke" Wasn't even wearing Templar armor.. No.. This was a trick...

Melissa stood up acting casual and friendly at first, She slowly reached behind her back and without another word cast an ice spell around the man's feet and placed the short sword she had gotten earlier from the Templar against "Volke's" neck. With fury and anger she yelled at the "thing".

"Alright, I may have fallen for your tricks once but not again! How many more are there! How long have you been following me, and most importantly! How do you know Volke?!?" Melissa blue sea eyes were almost red with rage she wanted answers and she needed them now..

[Rosekitten]

Sure he was expecting her to be shook up a bit, odds are she had never come that close to being killed by a demon. Maybe even being that close to a demon for that matter. He didn't really blame her for that. Of course he wasn't expecting her to all but attack either. Maybe he should have. He wasn't in uniform, of course he had a reason for this. Not one she might trust but one none the less. As she seemed to breath easier for a moment he assumed she was ok.

Though that was a poor assumption as the next thing he knew there was a ice spell keeping his feet and legs in place as he was forced to stay kneeling as he was. He was a mere second from standing seeing as she had done so. Well apparently that was out of the question, this was quite the day he was having. At this rate he was debating on taking his chances in town at one of the taverns or something. Least then if something happened he might not be sober enough to remember it happened.

Right away she started spouting out things and accusing him of being in with the other demon and such. The blade to the neck was a little unsettling with how riled up she was currently. "Do I look like a bloody fade demon?" He said right away as he felt the blade press against his neck. Oh fantastic he was going to die to a mage using a sword.. oh that would be swell now wouldn't it? "Don't you know how demons work? They appear as your inner thoughts or things you want to see or desire or miss. Last I knew I was the last person you wanted to see again." He had a valid point or he thought he did. Why would she be thinking about him anyway.

"Now.. if you don't mind.. would ye remove this blade from my neck before ye get all over emotional up there." She seemed to pull the blade back a little, just enough as he quickly dispelled the ice holding him in place as he stood grumbling a bit to himself. "today's been fun.. can't wait for tomorrow.. maybe I'll try befriending the witch of the wilds next and see how that bloody well goes." Oh yes he was thrilled, wanted for murder and everything. Even all of that was yet to sink in just yet really. Too much happening too quickly to say the least.

"If ye didn't want any help you could 'ave just said so instead of trying to run me through with a sword." With that he moved to take a few steps back before shaking his head a bit. "Honestly, I swear I'll keep my word the next time your in trouble I'm walking the other way and acting like I didn't see a bloody thing." At this point he meant it even if it was a empty threat.

[Natsunaine]

It wasn't long at all after the Foxkin placed a blade against the elf's neck that he began spouting out in anger. Yep, This was definitely a fade demon, the Volke she knew was calm and collect, She had never seen him over react, The real Volke would have seen that coming..

With that decided Melissa pressed the blade tighter against the 'things' neck, Melissa took the time to listen to every single word that /It/ Had said as it began to spout of more things, Melissa was confused at first, She wasn't sure who to trust..

But she did know that Fade demons didn't over explain things, They usually tried to get to the point quickly.. Fade demons also know your true inner thoughts and this Volke clearly did not know how she felt about him, that she actually missed him. "Idiot, Ofcourse I missed you..."

The women had hoped she had whispered that low enough for him not to hear, but, She most likely didn't. Her mood lightened soon as he started making remarks about how he wanted to befriend her big sister and you know Melissa she had to make a remark..

"Well, I am sure I could put a good word in for you! She wouldn't kill you! Maybe just rough you up a little, and as for your inquiry about you looking like a fade demon, you sure are ugly enough to look like one" Melissa giggled but only for a moment before being interrupted by more of Volke's anger rambling.

Melissa walked eye to eye with the man, her eyes teary and her smile huge. "Thank you so much for saving me, Please, Don't take me attack you the wrong way, I was just scared and so confused.." The foxkin was sad and confused, even still, the events that had recently taken place still had her emotionally strung.. She had though that the gods had actually gifted her with the privileged of having her dad back..

All the emotions of the day just suddenly hit her at once, and without a second though she grabbed Volke into a hug and buried her face into his chest plate her tears falling faster and faster. For some reason she felt comforted around him and she was going to take advantage of it while she could..

" I am so sorry, Volke.. I am.. so sorry" The apologizing went on and on as if for hours on end though only a few minutes, and then out of the blue, The women shut up and looked up to him. "Volke, Why are you not in your Templar uniform, What is going on, what happened after you left?"

[Rosekitten]

She had a right not to trust him but still. To think he was a fade demon he was about as insulted today as he could be. Heck nothing today had gone right to say the least. It was like one thing after another and he almost wanted to blame this mage for it. It seemed everything took a turn for the worse after she showed up. Though he really doubted she was the cause of everything. No some things were going to happen sooner or later.

Though he looked at her oddly as she spoke that she did miss him, not to mention the idiot part. He was going to question her on that. Why in the world would she miss him? He wanted nothing to do with her to be honest. No he would rather not even be standing here but he knew he couldn't just walk off and leave a demon to kill her either. Though he didn't get the chance to say anything to that, no he was too busy spouting off about whatever he was going on about only to have a smart comment from her.

"Sarcasm... I don't personally have a death wish." No if he did then he could have stayed in the town easily enough. No he rather liked living, that was the whole point in running wasn't it? He wasn't even sure seeing as the choice was made so hastily and he never gave it a second thought. He just went with his actions and ended up out here. In the wilds with the mage again. Just his luck it seemed.

He ignored the ugly comment for now though it was mainly because he was still trying to settle on everything. It was true the Volke she knew or had met before was collected, calm, seemed to never get riled by anything. The one now was too frustrated to even bother with hiding the hint at a accent he had from where he lived with his mother. Though this rambling stopped as she walked closer.

He half thought she might attack again as he prepared for it. But no she thanked him. "Yeah well.. don't make a habit of it." It wasn't his job to protect her, actually as of this moment he didn't have any job. Though his comment went for the attacking bit as well. She didn't need to make a habit of that either. Just because he was not with the tempalrs at the moment didn't mean he liked mages now either.

He was about to turn to leave her there saying he had something he needed to do and she was fine now so. Though he didn't as she suddenly seemed to step close and hugged him as she started sobbing. He half had his arms raised like he wasn't sure what to do with her at the moment. Actually he didn't know what to do with her at the moment. It wasn't normal to just hug someone and start sobbing away like that.

She kept saying sorry and sobbing as she stood there holding onto him. Finally taking a moment to relax he moved a hand to pat her back lightly half acting like he didn't want to touch her but forced himself to anyway as he was really unsure of what to even do at the moment. Um.. everything is ok.. stop saying sorry." He wasn't good at this though he didn't really remember much comforting as a child so it was no wonder he wasn't good at it.

Whatever he was doing seemed to help as she seemed to calm down suddenly and look up at him as she asked something that e rather hoped she wouldn't ask. His ears went back a little to show he was a bit annoyed at that question. "Well.. that .. is a long story." Actually it was a short one. He seemed to pause a moment as she was still standing awfully close and he finally managed to pry her arms from him as he backed up a bit. It wasn't really anything against her or really anything to do with mages. He just wasn't use to anyone touching him in any way.

"Either way." He said changing the subject at the moment. "It'll be dark soon and the last thing I want is to be standing out in the open like this." He had a good point. Wit that being a fact was when she pointed out the caves and such. This seemed to be as good of a place as any as they agreed on a bit of a truce for the night. He wasn't thrilled with the idea but still, little choice. Darkspawn crawling about and such.

The two settled down in the cave after a little while and Melissa seemed to question him again about the armor. They were going to be here a while she pointed out. He sighed finally. "It's nothing.. it was bound to happen sooner or later they just needed the excuse and they found one." Lack of details there as she seemed to look at him not voicing her further questions. "I was accused of working with mages against the templars. That dagger you used on one to finish him was one of mine that I had lent him that morning. So what better fodder then to use that as a excuse to get rid of me like they have been trying to do for years." He seemed to smirk a little at this as he moved to lean against the cave wall.

"I'm sure you can figure out the rest, ditching the uniform was the first task. It sticks out a bit compared to normal armor" Wasn't that the truth, besides now he had a new problem, he had two bottles and a half of lyrium and after that he had to find more. That or hope he didn't go crazy with his mind and body wanting the stuff. Closing his eyes he crossed his arms in front of him. "Well besides the demon how was your evening while we're on the topic of how everyone's day went.."

[Natsunaine]

Not long after the women had grabbed and clutched Volke into her arms and began sobbing she felt an awkward pat on her back, She didn't really blame him for this action, she was a mess completely acting out of her usual character, She did have an excuse though, she had been through a lot and little did she know that there was still worse to come.

Soon, She stopped her sobbing and the forest around them became quite, But only for a little while before she spoke up once more. "I really should be sorry, But I understand where you are coming from." Volke had then told her, that it would be a long story to explain what had happened to him, It almost made her worried. That, or she was just excited to see what gave the man a bad day out of interest and entertainment.. Ya, That was probably the most likely out of the two.

Melissa smiled still clutching tightly to the man squeezing a bit, Not long after that Volke pried her off and gave her a sort of disgusted look. Though she did not take it personal, She figured it was because she was a mage or something similar to that, Not that the reason particularly mattered. Either way, even after pried off the women stood as close as possible without breaking the Elves personal boundaries, he didn't seem to like that too well.

Soon enough, The elf got a serious look upon his face, Changing the subject quickly, almost as if it was a defense mechanism to the current situation. He was talking about how /they/ needed to find a shelter and somewhere safe to stay.. For some reason it made Melissa smile, Maybe it was because she felt like Volke was coming her friend, Or maybe because she was getting the chance to annoy him more. Either way she was excited.

"Well, There is the Cave we were in earlier that is nearby, The dark spawn were lured away by my screaming I am almost certain, It would be safe for the night and there is a nearby mage camp that supplies food and water I could go visit. You would have to wait at the caves, Templars won't be full heartedly welcomed.."

It wasn't long after she mentioned the mage camp that she had gotten a weird look from Volke, as if questioning why she wasn't with the group herself, Without being asked she quickly added on to her statement. "I don't side my self with any group of apostates whether it be the blood mages, or the runaways, I stay neutral and I am known for this, I am respected by both sides of the Apostate views and for that they both offer me assistance when needed." The answer seemed to satisfy the other, leaving a blank look on his face, Was he in thought?

Regardless, They both quickly started to march toward the cave that they had once been trapped in, it was kind of funny to Melissa, as she mumbled to herself. "Lucky me, I get to visit hell twice in one day." She giggled and stopped at the entrance of the cave waiting for the other to catch up and without a second of leeway she prodded the other in questioning.

"Well, We are going to be here a while, You might as well tell me the long story that you were talking about earlier." Sure, enough the elf told her about how he was accused of killing the Templar and siding with a mage, he jawed dropped in amazement, did the Chantry really treat their members so poorly? Melissa couldn't help but to feel the blame for what had happened but restrained her self from apologizing, She was sure Volke had enough 'I'm sorry's" for one day.. Nope instead Melissa tried to cheer him up.

"Look, It's obvious that you were to skilled and strong for that group of bumbling idiots anyways, I am sure you can become something greater, Maybe you can become a Champion, or a Ranger, Or even a duelist.." Though he didn't show it you could tell that Volke had someone cheered up from the comment, she wasn't sure why but she didn't really care, She was happy to know that she had helped.

Then the elf asked her how her evening went, Other than the abomination, Her afternoon was no where near as terrible as Volke's was, She almost felt bad to say. "Well, Nothing really happened, I was just looking for fire wood when I ran back into that horde of dark spawn and they began chase, Not to long after that I ran into the embankment and The abomination cloaked itself as my Father... I fell for it and then you showed up, Hardly compares to the day you had.."

[Rosekitten]

It was part to do with her being a mage that he acted the way he did. Though there was more to it then that. Besides interaction with his mother he wasn't really the type to expect hugs or any sort of invasion of his personal space. Normally if someone was that close he was in trouble for something, with Shem's the maker knew what they were blaming him for. No he had spent most of his life use to the fact that he was a outcast in the area he took up living in. He was fine with that, not really having too many worries and having a steady job. Though the details of what happened today wouldn't sink in till he slept on them. The morning would surely be fun that was certain. Either way he did want his space back and he did give her a look as a warning to no do it again.

Mentioning the cave was at least a promising aspect. That would provide cover if a storm rolled in and a fair amount of defense so nothing could just sneak up on them from any of the sides. Though it probably meant they were cornered as well but what could you do? Beggers could not be choosers in certain situations. Melissa mentioning a mage camp made him roll his eyes a bit. "Yeah.. 've enough 'fun' today." He hardly felt like dealing with a camp full of mages, especially now that he sort of was a ex templar and that could make him seem like a easy target to mages who had any bad dealings with templars.

The thought of one that had no back up might be too much to resist for some. Yeah all of this would setting in by morning. Let alone the fact he was even thinking about dealing with one night at the least of having this mage as company. Had the day really been that long that he threw out his templar brain washed mind in order to put personal survival first? Could be, or the fact that living to fight another day was the better option then braving the night with darkspawn about.

Though he did come to a question as he looked at her about to ask why she wasn't with the said group herself. It seemed like a safer bet. Even a group of templars normally left these mage camps alone and with good reason. One or two mages could be a handful enough to take down or capture, a small camp was asking for things to go bad. Either way he got a answer to his unvoiced question. Though not a answer he expected, a neutral mage? That was a unheard of thought there. Was there such a thing? Heck if mages could e neutral why couldn't there be some templars that didn't side with the chantry? Not that you heard of such a thing cause most went made from needing and wanting lyrium... oh yeah that was another thought that soon enough returned. He was in thought, more tired then anything really after running about town and avoiding the guards and templars alike.

"Lucky me I get to visit hell twice in one day." Volke heard her speak up as he smirked a little at that. "You do know that these caves haven't been used in years right? Most of the recent rumors are just that.. it was just scare tactics so the tempplars could keep the lesser mages from trying anything too reckless." Well seeing as he wasn't one anymore why not make her mind settle a little easier. She could have been thinking that templars could check these caves often. They didn't, he didn't remember when the last time anyone was brought out here really. They were taking her here today cause the cells were full.

Either way she didn't give him a chance to break and he found it easier to just tell her then to put up with her asking a hundred times. It wasn't that the chantry treated their members poorly, it was more of the fact of who or what he was that made this happen. A human would have been given a fair trial and questions would have been asked and everything. A city elf was another story. They were looked down upon and he had worked and bled plenty for the position he had before today. In a odd way he wasn't really disappointed that he was not a templar anymore, sure a handful or worries came to mind but he hardly cared at the moment.

Once he was finished telling her Volke expected to hear a im sorry and he was going to tell her don't be. He wasn't sorry, hell it was bound to happen sooner or later. They were looking for a excuse and found a easy one even if it was a mask of lies. Though instead Melissa spoke up that he was too skilled for that group anyway and he could become something greater. Her mentioning a list of things, though it was the ranger bit that he seemed to cheer up on the most. His mother was a ranger, thats the whole reason he had skills with a bow. Actually he had wanted to follow in her stead before he was forced into the templar ranks.

The main thing he remembered was her deadly aim and the creatures that would come aid her if she called. He had been working on such skills before his life suddenly changed. Working on raising a wood spider that she had found in the market one day. Though it ran off, probably due to how young he was at the time. Oh well hardly important now. He could still keep up with the templar abilities as they might be useful on the road but aside from that it would be wiser to travel light and as a ranger. Ok yeah his head hurt too much for this all in one day.

Well that was still nothing to say hey I had a good evening about. Abominations were hardly something anyone wanted to deal with and they could be very tricky... Though her mention of how his day was he shrugged a little. "Eh... such if life I 'uppose. I think by now I'm use to the Shem finding any and every excuse to blame elves for." Hardly mattered if you were a Dalish or city elf it seemed. Though at that he breathed out a little before moving to just outside of the cave. Melissa asking where he was going and sounding like she didn't want to be alone or thought he was just going to up and leave. "I'll be back, i think 've walked this area enough times I can find my way back." True enough and elves did have one thing up on humans.. they could see decently well in the dark, like a cat almost.

Really his mind was on one thing. He wasn't sure if she had eaten and he knew he hadn't. Plus now was as good a time as any to see how rusty his skills were after the years that had passed. Though he was pleased enough when he found some rabbit tracks. Of course this didn't go well as he kept having to avoid a few darkspawn here and there. Though his did get a lucky break and find a larger rabbit then the previous one he was tracking. He was actually dreading if he missed. A rabbit could give away position and everything, even if he was a fair distance out from the cave it could still be bad.

Though it seemed his aim wasn't affected by today's event as the arrow met it's target. He almost breathed out in relief that this went that well. Granted he had been gone a little bit now and odds were Melissa as worried, why did that matter anyway? Right he was over thinking on things again. Never the less avoiding the few enemies in the area he quickly made his way back to the cave. Though the look on her face was almost a priceless one. "What? Did you think i was just going out there for no reason? Tsk.. "

By this time she had started a fire and everything so least this place would be warm for the night and he was thankful for that door, even being old it was heavy and strong enough to keep most things out. He never thought that he look could be due to the fact that city elves were not known for their marksmen skills let along being able to hunt, on top of being a templar there was good odds he could have had no survival skills at all.

Not that he missed a beat in the slightest already moving to work on preparing the rabbit almost absentmindedly. Apparently old habits were easy to remember when they were needed. "Assuming you don't eat berries and leaves given what you said you are." A slight joke almost.

[Natsunaine]

Melissa eyed the elf weirdly as he shrugged acting if the problems of the day meant nothing to him, yet in his eyes you could see sadness, Was he hiding it, Or possibly could it have been that the issues from the current day had yet to sink in to his mind?

Either way, It wasn't soon after the conversation that the elven man made his way to the door of the cave. Acting as if he was going to leave, and of course Melissa being her nosey self she had to know. "Where are you going, Its getting late, You shoul-" Before she could finish the elf quickly cut her off by telling her that he knew the terrain quite well. Melissa couldn't help but to think it wouldn't have mattered had a swarm of dark spawn found him. It was his choice though, there wasn't much she could do but to wave back and hope to see him again later.

As the cave door closed, it got suddenly deafly quite, The room was creepy and agonizing on Melissa's mind, she never liked the quite. She always slept out side, or in a shelter near a river bank, so that the sounds could keep her comforted, Hell, The snoring of the other mages in the circle even made her feel comforted as loud as they were...

What felt like hours went by as the women waited and waited in that agonizing silence before the women finally got fed up and stood, She had to do something, Even if Volke didn't come back she had to find someway to contribute to the current situation. Melissa quickly made her way to the cave door prying it open and silently making her way outside, quickly casting a cloaking spell on herself.

She looked to the sky then the forest near her, using the stars as a compass she guided herself to the nearby mage camp that she had told Volke about, On approach the mages held their staffs up as in a violent reaction to the sounds of leaves crumbling beneath Melissa feet, She quickly undid the spell that concealed her body and held her hands to the air.

After a second or two one of the mages grumbled something to the effect that she was okay, even said her name, Wow was she really this well known amongst the mages nowadays? Nevertheless, the women walked past the guards and into the village and was soon greeted by the leader of the camp. "Ahh, Melissa, So good to see that you are still alive, Is there a particular reason you are here to visit us tonight? Not that we don't enjoy your company, You just always seem to have a purpose."

Melissa bit the edge of her lip, she knew she couldn't mention the Templar, or her situation, She knew she had to come up with a story quick, and being her after all it wasn't to difficult. "Well, You see there is a heard of dark spawn to the north, and I would rather like to be prepared incase of an ambush.." The women giggled as the leader nodded and guided her to the bazar area of the camp, There were merchants as far as the eye could see, It was a wondrous site for Melissa to see. "Anything you want tonight dear is on me, I miss seeing you around."

Oh, that man was going to regret those words, if there was one thing Melissa loved it was shopping, and she loved it even more when she wasn't paying, the women simply giggled and nodded waving the man off. Scanning around the camp site she quickly spotted a hefty decorated burlap sack with a shoulder strap attached. This was perfect, just what she needed to carry supplies in to help out at the cave.

Mel, swiftly grabbed it throwing it over her shoulders she moved to a nearby clothing store where the tailor had known her for quite some time. "Well, if it isn't my favorite skinny mage! What can I do for you today?" Melissa smiled and simply grabbed a few new black and red velvet clothes, Nice ones to, and proceeded to the dressing room and changed throwing her old tattered ones in the trash she smiled and waved to the tailor. "The old man has my tab today!" The tailor simply nodded and sent her on her way.

Next was the weapons department, mostly Staffs and small daggers filled this store. As Melissa walked in the first thing that caught her eye was an extravagant Whisper wood staff, Carved to look like a mighty dragon taking flight, Oh how pretty it was and how it caught her eye. Without a second thought she grabbed it and tossed it on her back, fitting it in the staff holsters that had came with her new outfit.

"Hmm, Maybe I should find something for Vol..." Before she could finish her eye caught the corner of a bow, This bow looked beautiful and durable, Not that she knew a lot about bows, It just had the feel to it, Melissa quickly piped up to the quarter-master "Excuse me, What kind of bow is this?" The man at the counter smiled, It seemed that she had picked out a good one by the tone and excitement in his voice. "Oh, That is quite the good bow that is, It is one of the finest bows your 'ver get a 'old 've. It's Dalish made, Its made out of iron bark, Extremely hard to find that is.. One of our scavengers pried it from a corpse nearby, figured they didn't need it."

Mel's eye grew with excitement it was like a kid in a candy shop, she just knew that the elf would like something like this, and hell it couldn't hurt to have an elf well equipped watching your back now could it? That's what she kept telling her self to deny the fact, that she really just wanted to get him something nice. Melissa spoke up and asked the man how much he wanted to sell it for, Although she knew she had whatever she wanted for free, this was special it needed to be bought.

The man at the counter shook his head and smiled, and with a joyus kind tone responded. "Oh, No charge love, I couldn't charge a lovely gentle women like yourself, go ahead and take it, as long as your promise to take care of it!" Melissa almost wanted to break out in laughter as the man called her gentle, Ya right, But nevertheless she smiled and thanked him grabbed the bow, hung it over her shoulder, and was on her way to her last stop.

The general goods tent, She didn't spend long there, just long enough to grab a bottle or two of lyrium, and what was needed for sleeping, two nice bed roll's and soft blanks, and some fire wood, which all somehow fit in her burlap sack, Except the bedroll that she simply carried in her arm. Soon enough the women once again preformed the cloak spell and made her way back to the cave, It didn't seem like much had changed since she left Volke must have been still out doing whatever he was doing.

Balancing the bedroll in one arm the women pried the cave door open once more and tossed the burlap sack inside along with the bedroll, closing the door behind her. She sat in the middle of the cave pulling from the sack the small amounts of fire wood she had gotten and carefully placing it in teepee style in the middle of the floor. Focusing her energy she shot off a small spark toward the woods, it quickly caught fire and the cave became warm.

Not to long after the women had settled in the sound of the cave door moving open broke the silence, out of reaction the women quickly reached for the new staff that was now holstered along her back, but she quickly let down her guard and smiled as volke came in with rabbits? She gave him a strange look, One that emotions couldn't quite describe, though she was most confused then anything. "I knew you were going to come back, sheesh, You can't get around anywhere during the day without my cloaking spell."

Ya, Even after all they had been through she was still acting smug, and not to long after that she go a well deserved crack back about her being a foxkin, she slightly giggled then reached into the dark behind her grabbing the Ironwood bow and throwing it at the elf. She almost fell to the floor laughing as he in a startled fit quickly grasped the bow.. It went silent for quite sometime, The man obvious knew the bow was Dalish or something, because he was joyful examining the bow, for a long time.. "So, do you like it or what?."

[Rosekitten]

Volke didn't plan on spending that much time out. No the plan was something for the night and to be done with it. Though apparently all of the path avoiding and keeping away from the darkspawn took more then he planned. Plus for the extra measure he avoided the templar paths as well. Though he was sure that they knew of the darkspawn and wouldn't dare to face them in the dark. Either way he wasn't expecting the strange reaction he got from Melissa when he returned.

It was a mix of her almost scolding him and then being worried all in one. Why though? Why be worried, he was still considered a mage hunter, a killer, after all. She should pray almost that something would happen. Then again he was out of a job about now and the last thing he needed to do was make more enemies. Let alone ones that would have the upper hand once the little bit of lyrium he had ran out. Oh he was not looking forward to that. He had heard the horror stories of lyrium withdraw.

"I did say I'd be back didn't I?" She still seemed unhappy with that. "Either way, obviously I'm back and nothing happened, not even a guard to be seen out there and the dark spawn seem to be scattering a bit." That was a good sign, by morning they could move again. Why was he thinking they? By morning the only they that should happen was them parting ways. He shook his head at that thought and hoped she didn't see that action, apparently she didn't as she didn't question him.

Barely managing to sit the two rabbits down before Melissa seemed to throw something at him. At first he wasn't sure what she was doing and he wasn't trusting in the least of her so of course he flinched a bit. It could have been a blade or some form of mage item, he had seen some items fixed up to do spell effects before. Though he seemed to settle after a second and after noticing that it was a bow. Where in the - she did speak of a mage camp and that she would go there. Was he really gone that long?

He started to question her on the bow but he knew right away what it was. The markings on it were the sign of the Dalish, and they were the only ones who knew how to craft a ironwood. To admit he hadn't seen one in a long time. His mother had one, of course she did she was a ranger. A master marksman in her time. He had lost her bow when she died. The noble she worked for more or less claimed anything they had back then after he refused to become a free slave more or less.

Volke was almost studying it for a few moments before Melissa spoke up. "So do you like it or what?" To admit it he flinched a little at the sudden words being a little caught up in his own thoughts. A mix of joy was there, these bows were beyond rare, though he didn't want to know the means in which she got a hold of one. Though at the same time it reminded him of a part of his past that he has forced himself to lock away for many years. Though to avoid further prodding he decided a answer was best thought up and quickly.

Nodding finally he spoke with it. "I do, though I'm not sure I want to know the means you came across it." Odds were a corpse, as much as he didn't like raiding the dead... it wasn't like the bow was doing them much good and it wasn't like the pair of them were overly equipped. "But I-" He cut himself off a little before shaking his head. About to come up with a excuse why he couldn't take it. No he wasn't that foolish, they both needed to be at their best if they were going to make it away from the darkspawn. It wasn't like they were grey wardens and the blood wouldn't effect them. "Thank you.. though you should have worried about yourself more"

Half being cut off at the end as she seemed to grin almost and held out the new staff she had. "Now I really don't want to know what you did while I was gone." Like he had room to talk, he sold templar armor to a merchant that was part of a ring that helped mages. It really was a gorgeous weapon though. The marking he seemed fascinated with the most was the crafters mark. It was the same one that his mother's bow had. So it was the same crafter. A unvoiced thought was that he wanted to meet this crafter, someday anyway.

Regaining his normal composure he cleared his throat a little. "Well... seems I owe you a few dinner's then to even start repaying you." Though he didn't mean it as dates to say the least. Sure he had given her some coin earlier but still. The price of one of these bows.. Really he was kind of surprised her curious nature didn't play in yet and question why a templar, let alone a city elf had any bow knowledge. Not exactly a common weapon for either. Plus with things settled down a little again he seemed to act like he knew what he was doing with preparing the rabbits.

Maybe not second nature but still there wasn't too much thought being put into it. A few skills he thanked his mother for and the rough patches they went through. Though he was personally glad Melissa wasn't questioning them. She wouldn't have gotten too much of a answer anyway.

[Natsunaine]

Melissa watched in happiness and anticipation as the ex-Templar elf looked and examined the bow his eyes getting wider and wider, it was amusing, and for some reason she liked seeing him happy.. Weird... Anyways, after a while the elf looked up and said something about how he didn't want to know where it came from, So, She didn't tell him.. Nope, instead she told a bold face lie. "Well, I went to the mage camp, and there was a Dalish elf there, He offered one for me at the price of conjuring him up some ice and fire for his thirst and hunger"

Thank good Melissa was good with lying, because soon after the elf just nodded it off like he accepted it, or maybe he just didn't really want to find out. Either way, it kept her head out of the noose for now. Dazed for a moment in her own thought, she was quickly jolted back to reality when the man said something about her worrying about herself. Sheesh was he kidding? The first thing Melissa did was watch out for herself, and that wasn't just in this situation, No, she usually was like that, had been since she ran from the circle, Mages tended to be forced into that kind of life..

Melissa reached to her back and unholstered her beautiful and eloquent dragon shaped staff and flaunted it off to the other like a new toy, only to get a small smirk and a bit of attitude, most likely because Volke had now realized that Melissa was even more dangerous in combat now that she had a staff to channel the fade through.

Soon after she flaunted and showed off her new 'toy' Volke yet again made a remark about how he didn't want to know she simply smiled and responded with a small cock and happy tone. "Look, you are not the only useful one in the cave Mr. Volke, While you were gone after leaving me in the silence nonetheless I took a visit to the mage camp and brought back some supplies, That including a bed for you some blankets, and a few bottles of lyrium!"

Melissa was going to keep on drabbling and making rude remarks but she was stunned and shocked silent when the man looked at her with a sincere smile and thanked her for the gift. Thank god it was somewhat dark in the cave because Melissa's face grew more red than a bottle of Poultice potion... "Y-your W-Welcome, I just wanted to H-help you S-start your road to a R-ranger.."

She looked down, Sheesh what was up with her? Is not like the elf gave a care about her, It's not like he would go out of the way to get her something, at least that she tried convincing herself. Quickly, passing off that Volke had risked his neck to get her food as a way to silence her annoying stomach growls..

Meliisa's childish school girl emotions quickly turned to an irritated rage as the many told her that he would pay her back. Did this fool even know what a gift was? "Listen here Pointy ears" The women said as she reached over and tugged the closet ear she could find. "I said it was a gift not a loan, If you try to pay me back, I will shove that bow where the sun doesn't shine you got me? Sheesh."

Volke seemed to spout of something in confusion and shock rubbing his ear as he finished preparing the rabbits that she assumed he had went out and caught for them, Soon he handed her one on a stick. The aroma of the rabbit drifting to her nose and making her mouth drool, she still hadn't had food yet and that rabbit looked so delicious.. At first Melissa tried to act lady like taking small nibbles at her prey, before the elf looked at her with a scowl like face and spouted off something about how he knew she was hungry and she needed to stop acting.

Hell, He didn't need to tell her twice. She quickly sunk her fangs into the food ripping it quickly off the bone and devouring each bite in a single gulp. Ignoring the weird glances she was getting from the other for the way she was viciously tearing apart her meal.
She looked to the other and smiled..

"So, Can I ask you something Volke, Do you have any parents out their waiting for you to come home?" After only a second of asking she knew she probably shouldn't have, as the silence only seemed to get worse in the cave, Maybe she had stepped over her boundaries by asking who knows.. But she didn't want to cause anymore fights..

So She quickly finished her meal wiping her hands on the side of the burlap sack and conjuring up a small amount of water to wash down her hands with. She dried her hands by the fire and before too long she reached into the burlap sack and proceeded to pull out one soft blankets that she had obtained earlier in the night, curling up onto the bed roll that had been there since, she had last visited for the prisoners of the cave. "Good night Volke, See you in the morning"

She paused for a moment flipping around to look at the other. "I will see you in the morning right?" The women paused in shock realizing what she had just said. Why should she care? No, She knew, she knew very well that even though they had just met she considered the man a friend, though her life was threatened several times by the man, she knew if she awoke the next morning without him there she would be heart broken.. She stared at him in silence waiting and hoping for an answer.

[Rosekitten]

It was strange really, some simple like a weapon could cause him to question a lot of things. As much as he hated to admit it the way out he had been looking for all of these years was right in front of him. A mage, something he had pretty much drilled into his head to hate, had provided one of the only means of leaving the templars next to death. The bow was just a cruel joke. A reminder of a past he had tried to forget and leave behind that seemed to find various ways to creep back up on him.

The answer wasn't one he expected from her, yet it was at the same time. Volke accepted what her tale was as the truth, but it really was more due to the fact that he really didn't want to think about how she came about the means or funds to get this. Her own staff being added to the mix, now he knew that she didn't just do a few magic tricks as payment for both objects. Granted from all of the years he was in the templars service his mind right away jumped to the thought of how much stronger her magic was with a well equipped staff in hand.

A dreaded thought that he silenced for now, if she had wanted him dead then she would have tried already. Right? Well that question wasn't going to help him sleep tonight. Promptly after putting the staff away again Melissa seemed to state he wasn't the only useful one. Well no he knew that. She wouldn't still have her freedom if she didn't have connections or skills. Though it was more of what she stated she had brought back. Why did she even bother getting supplies for him as well as herself? It wasn't like they were traveling together now or anything.. plus he had tried to turn her in multiple times during the previous day.

Ok so on the same note he saved her as well...let alone maybe the same reasoning he had for bothering to find enough food for the pair of them. There wasn't a good reason but there wasn't a point in trying to shun out company when you were surrounded by darkspawn either. Heck she had went far enough to even bring back lyrium, something he knew he'd be running into problems with sooner or later. The stuff was hardly commonplace in the markets, let alone cheap. He could have blown her off or said something else about how she managed to afford this but he didn't not instead he thanked her. He actually meant it to be completely honest. Eve though his ears seemed to lower back slightly like he regretted being in debt to her or something.

Though what was really odd was that Melissa seemed to all but shut up. This caused Volke to look at her only getting a slight hint of the deep shade of red her face seemed to be. Times like this he was glad that he was elven, even if it wasn't perfect night vision it still allowed for some things to be seen. Though he could have guessed the shade of her face by her voice. She seemed to almost stumble and fall upon her own words. Like she was lying but not at the same time or finding a excuse for her own actions to prove them to herself more then him. Though it was only a short lived stumble it seemed as Volke spoke up finally to kill the silence.

She seemed displeased with him saying he owed her, even if he never really said pay back. He merely mentioned food, something that would be needed during travels anyway. Though her actions to follow were hardly expected ones and honestly he couldn't remember the last time anyone had gotten that close. "Listen here pointy ears." She started as he barely got a chance to think on how many times he heard that insult. No the sudden tug on the ear that she grabbed made him flinch, though she seemed to release it just as quickly as he rubbed it with a bit of a glare towards her.

"Alright alright! Don't 'ave ta go pulling on someone's ear like that... tsk .. as bad as a shem I swear.." Though that last bit about the shem might have been more mumbled then anything. Apparently his accent really came into play when he wasn't in his usual calm state. Lack of thinking over each word probably did it. Though that voice was more fitting of him then the forced one he had grown use to over the years. Forcing himself to act as 'normal' as possible to keep from drawing attention to himself over the years. Lot of good that did.

Either way the food was done by now and he handed one off to her. Though she started eating it like it was some dainty candy or like she was trying to avoid getting messy. "Oh come off it... I doubt you've eaten from the last time we parted ways." More or less saying he knew she was hungry and to stop trying to act like she wasn't. This seemed to give her all the permission she needed as right away she started chowing down on the cooked meat. Well, that wasn't quite what he was expecting to be honest. Maybe he should have, she did state she was a foxkin after all.

He didn't give her too many looks, he had seen some of the temaplrs eat with worse manners. It was funny in a way at how she devoured it. Anyone who said that all women were proper or what not had never met this one. Maybe in a way he liked that about her, speaking her mind freely. What was he even going on about in his thoughts? Sooner or later silence seemed to be too much for Melissa as she asked a question, one he saw coming but he didn't want to answer. He had glanced at her as she stated asking it. All the way till the end when he seemed to glance back towards the fire instantly.

The new found silence was almost deafening to him. His company seemed to take that hint as she finished eating and started to get ready for bed. It wasn't a harmful question, just a simple honest one. After a moment or two she spoke good night and see him in the morning. Though it didn't stop there as he never replied right away. She asked if she would be seeing him in the morning. Well.. that was a odd question to ask, where was he going with the darkspawn about? Her little trick was the best bet to get away from here.

He breathed out finally before moving to lean his back against the cave wall. "Yeah.. see you in the morning." Glancing he noticed that this seemed to make Melissa smile. What was with her... he couldn't place his finger on her just yet. Normally he could guess people but not her. She started to turn to face the other way again but he spoke up about then. "To answer your question, no I don't." A answer to her family question. He could have added details.

Like the fact he didn't even remember his father, other then he was a city elf and was from here. His mother died when he was still young, old enough to fend for himself on the streets and to get a job in manual labor but still young. He shook his head finally before trying to settle enough to get some form of rest. "Good night." Though he wasn't sure what was good about it other then they both still had their breath.

morning seemed to come on swift wings. She had fallen asleep almost without a care in the world. Though why not? Full stomach, she had company, let alone company that wasn't going to try to kill her. Volke found himself waking up throughout the night. Like he expected her to be at his neck to do him in or something. Though by morning he was a little bit of a wreck. without waking her he had moved to the far end of the cave and was near about pacing it back and forth.

It probably finally did sink in over the night what situation he was in and it was bad. Here he was a city elf no less and now he was going to have his face plastered all across the city with the words dead or alive under it. Probably some bounty reward attached to it as well. Heck maybe even just the words dead on the poster. The mage he was with at the moment seemed tight on funds, she could easily turn him in if he didn't watch himself. On that note why was he still hanging round here?!

"Why .. why did I do that.. damn it all." He hissed under his breath before slamming a fist against the wall he was near and half leaning against the same wall afterwards with his head lowered a bit. He had given them all the reason the needed to find him guilty. He ran! Of all the stupid things to do he ran form the templar and the city guard! He tried to reason with himself to say they were going to kill him, he had no proof of it but surely he knew better then to think they were going to hear him out.

[Natsunaine]

Melissa couldn't help to smile when Volke had informed her that he was intending on staying for at least he night. Her stomach had a weird feeling, What was this? She had certainly no recollection of the feeling before, and if she felt it before she sure as hell forgot it. Nevertheless, Satisfied with the answer she had received the women began to turn to get comfortable but was quickly stopped by Volke continuing and answering her question about his parents earlier.

Though it was a bit unsatisfying it was an answer not that the fact that it was still an answer eased her mind at all, It just seemed to keep her awake. It wasn't long before she heard Volke curl up on his bedroll close to her after the conversations stopped, and not long ago before she had thought he had fallen asleep.. Melissa simply laid in the dark cave with her eyes closed, Letting the events of the day and other thins run through her head..

Not long after she closed her eyes Melissa fell into a deep sleep, Hell, and arch demon could run through the cave and she would still be sleeping with drool running down the arch of her face.. It seemed that the time she was asleep was only minutes as she opened her eyes and looked about the cave.. Volke was still asleep, Melissa laid her head back down and closed her eyes thinking that it really had only been a few minutes..

But, soon enough she heard movement behind her, It was Volke he had stood up and made his way to the door and began pacing but why? Melissa kept the coy act going that she was asleep, so that the man wouldn't stop just to act straight around her and soon enough she vaguely heard a line from him "Why did I do that?"..

Melissa's mind instantly went into and endless pool of thought. Why did he do what? What was he disappointed in? It was then man hit the wall and had a look of confused anger on his face.. Ofcourse, he was upset that he saved the mage, after all she was the reason he was no longer a Templar.. After all it was her fault his life was ruined..

She had to leave, Yeah, that was the only way she would be able to help the Templar stay happy. That was the only way he could go back to having a life, She would just run away and return to Kirkwall and turn herself into the circle, She was sure they would just make her go back into training as long as she kept her tail under the cloak spell.. Yeah, that's what she had to do.. To save another life she had to sacrifice her own.. She was more and willing to do this... It was the least she could do to make up for the past mistake she made so long agao..


After a while the Templar walked to the other side of the cave away from the door spouting some lines to himself that she could barely hear, Probably about how stupid he was for not killing her or something.. Melissa silently stood and without a second thought grabbed her staff and casted the cloaking spell she knew so well and silently headed out of the door, Though little did she know as the door closed behind her it slammed and was loud enough for the Templar behind her to hear.


As she made it outside, she dropped the cloaking spell noticing the Dark spawn had long since vanished from the area, her next place to go was the circle at first she walked at a slow pace towards the larger city, that was until she noticed an confused looking elf running towards her, Yep, It was Volke.

Tears fell from the woman's eyes as she took off in full sprint toward Kirkwall, She was going to make it there she was going to give the elf a better life, He deserved one she did not. She-.. Before she could finish her thought she glanced down to noticed her legs weren't moving, She couldn't cast a spell? Wait.. What was going on? The women frantically looked around only to noticed an arrows skillfully placed next to her foot..

Fuck, She had once again been caught by Volke's deadly accuracy and Templar ability, she had been caught, and by her own gift none the less... She could hear the mans steps getting closer and closer her tears falling faster and faster and faster. Melissa instantly came up with a lie. "Leave me alone, I hate you.. I don't want anything to do with you! I just want to be alone to live my life in the circle!"

Yeah, Volke had been around her enough to give her a look that she recognized as the 'there is no way in hell I am believing that lie'look as he came face to face with her, and soon enough he spouted something similar to that in a bit of anger that she would lie to him in such a situation.

She began shutting down.. What was she going to say? what was she going to do? Hey Volke, I know you want me dead so you can have a good life, So I am going to the circle.. Ya, that would go over so swimmingly. Melissa was quickly snapped out of thought as the man looked at her as if he were about to speak, again, He was questioning her and what she was thinking.. Ya she saw that coming.

At this point she was stunned and thought she might as well explain. "This morning when you got up and started pacing around, I was already awake, trying to fall back asleep myself, That is when I over heard you saying something to the affect of. Why did I do that?.. I got scared.. I thought you regretted saving me keeping me alive, because it ruined you life.. So I thought I would turn myself into the circle and clearing your name.."