BioWare owns all but what I made up. :D

Just a little peek into Daveth's thoughts on Kai, I hope you enjoy.

My gratitude to you all who put this story and me on favs and alerts, thanks to: Kiira13, Lady of Dragons, Iconoclasts, Snowybiscuits, and Parliament of Ravens.

My special appreciation to all who take the time to review, it means the world to me.

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Again, my apologies for delays, I did have these few chapters in reserve. But I have run out and I am very privileged to be working on a mod for DAO, which when it's done I hope you will all play and have many hours of fun with. I will keep you all apprised of when it's ready. It is a true labor of love by many talented people. I got lucky to be invited.

Remember, read and support each other! I have the best and most talented fans!

Blessings!

We see the roguish cutpurse sitting on a stool next to the prone figure of Kaidana "Kai" Cousland on a rickety looking wooden bed in an equally run down looking hut.

There are books on the floor and human skulls on a altar in the darker shadows where the light from the fireplace does not penetrate. The air is dank, musty, herbal, and filled with the heavy smell of smoke, dead soldiers and darkspawn both living and dead.

It is a day since the Battle of Ostagar was lost, along with Ferelden's king, when the King's strategist and hero of the people quit the battlefield despite Kai and her group lighting the beacon.

Kai was severely wounded as the tower was over run with darkspawn, taking several arrows. She has remained unconscious since the previous day and the better part of the next, despite healing potions and healing from a very powerful mage.

Come on, love, open those lovely blue eyes would ya? We've been waiting on you. And, quite frankly, these witches have done right by us, healin' us and all, but the old one gives me a case of the scuzzies.

She's got this look in her eyes, like lookin' into a deep, dark pit. My da's eyes looked like that, the day he beat my mam to death in fit of rage. That cold, dark look that made the anger of his actions even more frightening. I never told no one about that. It's the same day I ran away. Still somethin' I can't quite forgive myself for. I didn't try and save her. I ran. I don't know if I could have, but I wish I'd tried. Maybe I'll get to fix the books on that as a Grey Warden, eh?

Speaking of Grey Wardens, our fellow Warden, Alistair, he made it, in case you didn't hear him when he's talked to you. Well, I'm afraid if you don't wake up soon, he's goin' to throw himself into one of those ponds out there and drown himself. He is takin' things a bit... hard, shall we say?

That Morrigan is a right nice piece to to look at, bet she could take my mind off things—if I didn't think she wouldn't freeze the gift to women the Maker gave me. It might be fun to find out, as danger has its appeal, but I figure I might should stay human and out of the cooking pot. Alas, no distraction there.

And wouldn't ya know it? Dropped into a cabin full of books and me not bein' able to read. I can scratch my name in the dirt, but only because some right pretty fellow thief showed me once after we had, well... let's just say, come together, and leave it at that. But even if I could read even a bit, those books smell funny and they give me the shivers just lookin' at 'em.

So I am lookin' at something much better. And while you give me the shivers when I look at you, it's in a good way, love, I promise. Both witches assured us you'll live, thank the Maker and His Bride.

You are somethin' else. I don't know what to think of you. You are easy on the old eyes, and I like to look. As you told me, I am an admirer of the female form. But there is somethin' else about you. Somethin' the old bugger saw, I suspect... I... Duncan is... Okay, I can't. I can't talk about it twice. He was more than my old da was. So, I'll tell you when you wake up. I won't be able to get through it again.

Where was I, love? Oh, yeah, you. Noble with elven writing on yer face. You fight dirty just like a cutpurse, and you can steal like one, too, yet you've never had a day of want in your life, I bet. Yet you treat everyone the same when you should stick your nose up at me, lowly thief and pickpocket that I am.

Yer clever and funny, and you fight like a demon. Don't think we would have made it to the top of the tower without you. Well, you need to fight and come back now, because, quite frankly, as mopey as our friend has been, if you don't come back, I might drown him myself. So, get your very delightful backside back out of that bed and save me the trouble, won't ya?

Ah, that lovely Morrigan just popped in, her nose in the air, mind you, to tell me the stew is ready. I'd best get myself out there or I may find myself as tomorrow night's dinner.

You know, I once heard a story by a travelin' bard about a man who kissed a lass sleepin' under a spell and it woke her up. Wonder if it will work? No? Ah, well, it was worth a try. And at least ya can't slap me for tryin' now can you, darlin'? I assure you, it's much more enjoyable if you participate.

Well, I'm off, love. Be back soon with Alistair to try and spoon some food into you. But I would really love to see those eyes open, so give it a go, will ya?