"Yes, or at least, as long as I wished to stay with them." Thea replied calmly, the irony of the question being asked by the very woman who had taken her away in the first place was not lost on her. "The clan had raised me as one of its own, but I was free to leave any time I wished should I wish to return to the human cities. Of course, it wasn't much of a choice - I had grown up only ever knowing the Dalish way of life, and never needing to hdie my magic, what good would entering human society do? I learned the Common Tongue, and whatever books on human history we had, but I could pass as a normal human woman as well as one of the darkspawn would."

Her explanation was cut off by the tavern keep returning with their food. The concept of food being served like this, on plates and at individual tables, was alien to Thea. The Dalish ate their meals together, as a whole community. She picked up the knife and fork, digging into her meal somewhat awkwardly. "I assisted the Keeper and the First with any errands they needed done, or by helping to tend to the sick and injured. If we ever came under attack I would join the hunters in repelling the invaders while the Keeper ensured the rest of the clan were safe and under shelter. The First had to be an elf, of course, but I was no lesser an apprentice. I even helped make potioins and medicines from time to time." Thea continued in between mouthfuls. Talking about her life in the clan had made her wistful and reminded her further of her current circumstance. "Why should it matter, templar? That life is no longer mine, thanks to you."

If her words were barbed, it was only because the stares she was getting from the old crone behind the counter were wearing on her nerves. She was an equal, part of the family within the clan, now she was a monster to be caged and feared. Anyone would be resentful if they were under the same conditions. With that thought in mind, she found her appetite lessening and put down her utensils altogether. She got up abruptly and left the table, not caring the templar drew her blade or used her talents to drain her mana and leave her incapacitated for her sudden actions. Thea had no desire to be around the woman. "Is there a bath I could use?" She asked the tavern keeper, only to be met with another dirty look and a noncommittal jerk of the finger towards their room for the even. "In your room, the water's warm so don't try burning down my tavern just to heat it."

"If I do burn down this dump, hag, it will be your cold manners, not the bath, that caused it." Thea replied angrily, turning back to Kaitlyn, she made a mock bow. "Would you like to keep an eye on me in the bath as well? Perhaps I should thank your Maker this Chantry of yours did not send a man. Who knows if I might make it to the Circle with my chastity intact?" Thea stormed off and slammed the door to the bath as she entered, stripping herself of her dirty robes and undergarments, before submerging herself into the hot water. The warmth did little to soothe her nerves, as she hugged her own legs and tried not to cry in the tub, refusing to let the templar see her weakness.

Somewhere in the back of her mind Thea knew Kaitlyn was simply following orders and that the templar had been nothing but respectful towards Thea on their way here, but the mage needed a target for her anger and Kaitlyn was a target of convenience. She supposed she was being unkind, especially since the woman had just lost her brother as well, but the sigil that the woman bore on her armor and shield was a constant reminder of why they were here in the first place and Thea could not help herself from seeing the evil that took her from her home.

At first, she thought it was her anger that was making her lightheaded, but as she began feeling faint, the mage recalled reading somewhere that hot baths could cause people to faint, it was all the last thought she had as she drifted off into the blackness.