DISCLAIMER: I base my stories on Intellectual Property (IP) owned by BioWare™ and EA™.

SPOILERS: I incorporate events from the games, the novels and the comics. If you have not played or read, please beware.

A SONG IN THE STILLNESS

In the long hours of the night
When hope has abandoned me
I shall see the stars and know
Your light remains

I have heard the sound
A song in the stillness
The echo of your voice….

Trials 1: Hymns

Chapter 1: Escape

9:31 Dragon, Kingsway === The Orphanage

Lys did not see Maric again, after that one visit on the morning after her marriage, at least not when Maric was conscious. Once, Thomas took her to see the former king lying in the sun, outside the cave beneath the Keep's walls. Maric had been barbered, bathed and, she assumed, bled, and now he lay on the hard stone ledge in only his braies. After a few crude remarks, Thomas took her back to her room. That happened in summer, soon after Reina announced Lys' pregnancy, but now, the wind off the Amaranthine Ocean announced the approach of winter.

Below her, anchored just offshore, the Wyvern waited for cargo and passengers. Thomas and Nicephorus had decided to leave, although they continued to argue over their destination. Thomas had said nothing to her, but both Kai and Reina gleaned information where they could. Nicephorus had come to trust Reina, as much as he trusted anyone, and Kai, keeping her head down, exploited the invisibility being an elven servant afforded. Lys did wonder how Reina kept Nicephorus' favor, but chose to trust her and not to ask questions. Reina kept her promise to ensure Lys' safety and health and asked no reward; that was enough for Lys.

Rubbing her expanding belly, Lys wondered if she cared where they went. Wycomb or Minrathous, Bastien or Vyrantium, what did it matter when she would be a prisoner wherever they landed? Kai pointed out that in a Marcher City they had a better chance of escape, but Lys doubted Thomas would keep Kai with her or, if he did, that either of them would ever see the outside of a nicely appointed cell. She sometimes laughed bitterly at the irony. Rendon Howe's attack on Castle Cousland had released her from an Orlesian marriage and captivity in Lydes; now his son kept her in similar captivity in Ferelden.

Growing up, her perspective had been clouded by family and friends with good marriages, marriages based on love or friendship, and her belief that Maric would acknowledge Alistair. Her more recent experiences had cleared away that fog. Her value lay in her womb and her blood. In the end, despite the differences in their behaviors, both Denis and Thom only wanted children, preferably sons, to further their own dynastic goals. They valued their animals, who had uses beyond breeding, more than they valued her. She had resigned herself to captivity in Orlais; she could resign herself to captivity with Thomas. She only regretted Kai had not eluded capture this time. While she saw no way of escaping the fort that was the Orphanage, like Kai, she had some hope that opportunities would arise once they left.

She thought back to her last view of King Maric. He had looked healthy enough, not overly thin or pale. Any escape must include him. She wondered if he had continued the strengthening exercises she had taught him. She also wondered why there had been no further visits. Had she not been believably annoyed and disgusted or angry enough at Thomas for making her visit Maric that first time? She wondered if she would see the former king aboard ship, or if they would all be locked into their cabins. After five months of unrelieved routine, even wondering and uncertainty seem stimulating.

Below the keep, the ship rocked at anchor as a ladder dropped to allow the sailors in the shallop to tie up alongside and climb aboard. Soon a hoist began to lift chests of varying sizes onto the deck. Though she could hear voices, she could not make out the words being shouted from the shore below her. Lys tried to lean across the crenellations to see the shingle beach by the cave, but couldn't maneuver her body to lean out far enough and the small tower housing the stairway entrance blocked the direct view.

She sat in a crenel, facing inward, the wind against her back, wondering how she would feel about this baby when she first held it, or if she would even be allowed to feel anything. Would he let her keep it to breastfeed or take it to a wet nurse and deprive her of ever knowing her child? At first Thomas, happy that his seed had taken root, had enjoyed fondling her larger breasts, but by Solace her growing belly had disgusted him, or so he said, and he left her alone to seek companionship elsewhere. The indifference she welcomed would end once the babe came.

The human women from the barracks visited the Hall on most nights, entertaining Thomas and his guard officers. Kai reported that, much to Nicephorus' dismay, Thomas had resumed his drinking and gaming. The servants, all young, elven woman safe from human attack, provided Kai with daily reports. Another irony. The Orphanage, despite the horrors of forced pregnancy and slaving, provided, for elven woman, a safe haven from rape by humans. The last man to attempt to take an elven woman had been hung over the battlements and left to die. Tevinter wanted elves, not half-bloods, and the guards knew the rules. Essentially invisible, the elves provided Kai and Reina with reports from every quarter of the small fort.

Reina kept Lys supplied with wool for spinning and, secretly, because Thomas would consider them a weapon, knitting needles, with which she made blankets with some of the spun yarn. The elves had looms and turned the rest of her yarn into lengths of cloth, which she sewed into baby gowns. Reina's suggestion that she be permitted to weave met with a firm no from the Tevinter, as it would require that she leave the keep and visit the elves' dormitory. A loom would not fit into her small bedroom. At least spinning and knitting kept her busy.

A sudden clamor in the courtyard ended her reverie and she moved to the other side of the keep's roof to investigate. A line of elves, bound together at the ankles, filed out of their dormitory. Men and women carrying toddlers or babes all shuffled towards the stairway to the cave. It seemed Thomas and Nicephorus would leave soon, even if they had no destination. She turned, as the door to the stairway opened behind her.

"They're moving us all onto the ship, as you can see," Reina said. "Easier to guard. There's trouble in the caves and most of the guard are needed there, so the ship's crew will ensure we don't escape."

"Escape to where? And what kind of trouble?" Mel asked.

"Thomas gets more paranoid after every argument with Nicephorus. He seems to think his brother will arrive with an army before they can load the ship and sail away. As for the trouble, some kind of creatures live deep in the cave, but have only rarely attacked, according to Nicephorus. That's changed lately. Today, Captain Ranulf has joined them on their foray into the cave, along with some of his crew, to let the guards fight the creatures, while the ship's crew brings out the chests. The remaining crew will see us settled aboard the ship. I've convinced them you need fresh air and shouldn't be locked in your cabin. I'm your keeper."

"What about Kai?" Lys folded her arms across her stomach, clutching her cloak around her torso.

"She'll be with us," Reina said gently, watching the young woman relax. "I informed Nicephorus I would watch you, but that I wasn't a servant." She chuckled. "He responds well to arrogance."

Rewarding Reina's quip with a tight smile, Lys followed the mage down the stairs to her room, where she found Kai already packing their meager belongings. Lys began rolling up the thin mattresses, securing them with rope and folding bed linens and blankets.

Seeing Kai's questioning glance, she snapped. "What? You don't think we'll need these? I remember the bunks on the Wyvern, if you don't. My back will appreciate some extra mattresses and bolsters."

Chuckling, Kai nodded agreement, ignoring Lys' sharp tone, and continued folding gowns, stockings, tunics and smalls, and placing them in a chest. She had just closed the lid and fastened the latch when four guards appeared at their door. The men hefted the chest and bedding, leaving the bolsters for the women to carry. Donning their cloaks, they took one last look around the small room. Lys waved the other two on.

"I want to make sure we didn't leave anything," she said.

Kai stopped and bent over, looking under the bed, "Last thing we need is you creeping around on your knees," came the muffled comment from behind the bed, once Reina left. "Go, so they don't think you're causing problems. I'll be right along."

Her hand on her stomach, Lys felt the baby kick against it, proving Kai's point. She had begun to feel unbalanced as her weight shifted. She took one last look and descended to the Hall. Kai followed before anyone commented on her absence. She nodded and Lys relaxed. The small pouch with their rings, the Blight pills, her other jewelry and the Ashes had been hidden in a crevice behind the bed. Best that Kai kept it now. They could find another hiding place on the ship.

x==========x

Lys rose early the next morning, after a good night's sleep. The gentle rocking of the ship, the extra mattress, and the bolster behind her back had all contributed to a more comfortable bunk. It's narrow width and her growing belly would, she hoped, discourage Thomas from joining her. That and the likelihood that the women from the barracks would be brought aboard. She assumed that Thomas, who had spent the night ashore, wanted his entertainment to stay with him, wherever he slept. Given the thin wall between her cabin and his, she would know if he had company.

Splashing water from a ewer into the basin on the table between the bunks, Lys sponged off the last remnants of sleep. Shivering, she pulled a clean tunic over her stockings, smalls and breast band, followed by her gown from the day before. She had added panels, from the cloth the elves had woven, to each side of her best gowns, to accommodate her expanding girth. With another length of cloth, she wrapped her hair, almost chin length now, to keep it from flying in the wind she could hear battering the ship. They had come aboard after dark and gone directly to bed, so exploring the ship and finding Maric would be her first task. When her stomach growled, as if in protest, she decided some food should come first.

Slipping on her cloak, she put her arms through the slits and hugged it around her torso as she clambered up the passage to the deck. She hoped the cook had been able to light a small fire for tea and porridge. Walking onto the deck she found the sun shining and the wind not as bad as it had sounded. As the cook filled a cup with tea and a bowl with porridge, Lys took her spoon from the pouch on her belt. Holding the cup and bowl, she looked for a place to sit. Spying a young woman sitting on the steps to the steering platform, Lys joined her. She began to introduce herself, but the girl cut her short.

"I know who you are," she snapped.

"And you find me offensive?"

"You're the slave master's wife, what do you think?"

"I think you sail on a slaver's ship and that you do not know me. I do not chose to be here." Lys began to get up, but, holding the tea and bowl, she struggled, and fell back onto the step, slopping tea onto her cloak. "If you can tolerate my silent company, I'll eat and leave when I finish."

The woman nodded her assent and they sat, while Lys ate her porridge, leaving the tea to cool. As she finished, the woman spoke. "I don't mean to be rude, I just hate being here, but…Captain Ranulf is my father. He carries your husband's slaves, but I don't usually sail with him."

"We don't choose our parents. You don't approve of his cargo?"

"No."

The girl stared towards the shore as Lys sipped her tea. "Look," she said, "I am sorry. My name is Estrid. I lost my galley, The Sappho, in Denerim during the battle. My father's was the first ship out of Denerim, so a few of my crew and I sailed with him in Cloudreach. I stayed to earn enough to get my own ship and crew again, but it's dirty money and I'm regretting it."

"Not many ships stayed for the battle. Why were you still there? Or was your galley in dry dock with the Wyvern?"

"I came back once too often for refugees. Lost half my crew when the dragon attacked and the rest - most of them - stayed in the city to help rebuild rather than sail with my father. They will find another berth when shipping returns. Father has had other cargo these past months so I stayed on, convincing myself he'd reformed. 'Course he hasn't, but I need to get to Wycomb, where I have contacts. My father agreed to make port and leave me there on his way to Vyrantium."

"That's where Thomas is going?"

"I don't know about your husband, but that's where the mage wants to go and where my father delivers the…cargo. Maker, I hate it. I hate that his greed overcame his integrity. He's not the man I knew as a child." Estrid's brow furrowed, as she studied Lys. "You were in Denerim during the battle."

"I was."

"Do you know much about darkspawn, about Blight sickness?"

"Some," Lys said slowly, "why?"

"Two men in sickbay below. My father, your husband, and the Tevinter spent the past two days in the cave, with their guard and most of Father's crew retrieving chests and goods stored there. Your husband says they're trade goods, but…Father thinks the chests hold the dead Arl's treasure. Your husband had the crew store all the chests in his cabin, not in the hold. Worse, Father told me there's been fighting in the caves, but he won't say more than that. Who would they fight? No one else is here. I wondered if the guards mutinied, except that the wounded men below - they're feverish and delirious, but their wounds aren't that bad."

"The caves, how deep do they go?" Lys asked, picturing the abandoned dwarven harbor near Long's Reach. Could this have been a dwarven trading port with an Avvar fort above it? The Vigil has Avvar roots, or so Nate used to tell us. Those roots go deep - maybe even into the Roads.

"Deep. I heard Lord Thomas say the monsters prevent his brother getting through from the Vigil. He said the monsters would destroy any patrol he sent, but now they're attacking in this direction."

"Andraste's Fingernails, they're fighting darkspawn attacking from the Deep Roads." Lys saw the incomprehension on Estrid's face. "The old dwarven roads. There must be a passage, a part of the Deep Roads, between the caves and Vigil's Keep, the ancestral Howe seat, but it's blocked by darkspawn. Those men below, do they have dark splotches on their skin?"

Estrid nodded.

"They have Blight sickness." Lys looked around the ship. "How many sailors did your father leave?"

"Nine plus the cook. He only had fifteen sailors. He planned to add more in Wycomb for the sail to Vyrantium, since four of the crew are mine and will go with me."

"So, of the nine, four will follow your orders?"

"Yes."

"Is there an armory? Can we get bows and swords?"

"We? And why?" Estrid stared at the girl who sat straight, eyes alert, no longer huddled against the bulkhead.

"I can still shoot, but Kai will need a sword and dagger and Reina knows a few primal spells. We'll take over the ship. Give your father's sailors the choice of joining us or joining their Blight infected mates ashore." Lys watched the other woman's face show a range of emotions as she struggled to comprehend Lys' proposal. "We can try to save your father, if he's not infected, but Nicephorus must be killed or he will use his magic."

Estrid regained her composure, eyes narrowing as she leaned forward. "And your husband?"

Lys shrugged. "We can give him the choice of being our prisoner and facing justice for his crimes. If he declines, he'll die."

"No love lost then." The pregnant girl's cold attitude surprised Estrid, but her plan made sense.

"Not all marriages are consensual. He and his father attacked my home, killed my family and friends. Love was never a part of it."

"The Highever attack? Who are you?"

"I thought Thomas bragged of his wife's pedigree." Estrid cocked her head to one side and shook it. "No? Then it doesn't matter. I'm just a trophy he acquired when he fled Denerim after the battle."

Estrid stood and held out her hand for the bowl and cup, freeing Lys to steady herself as she rose.

"You go talk to your crew and I'll get Reina and Kai-"

"-I would like to save my father."

"I'll ask Reina to cast a sleep spell on him. As long as he doesn't fight us…."

"You're sure the mage will help?"

Lys smiled. "Positive. Kai and I are alive and mostly unharmed because of her. And, Estrid, those men in sickbay, they need to die. There's no cure for Blight sickness and they'll just become ghouls and attack us. I'll do it, if you'd rather not. Blight sickness progresses at different rates, but there's no hope." I'm not wasting the few pills I have left on slavers.

"I'll take care of it." Estrid fumbled in her belt pouch as she wondered who this girl might be. "Here're the keys to my father's cabin and the arms chest. Get what you need. I'll meet you there." She watched Thomas' wife walk towards the cabins. She's a surprise. No one's said anything about Thomas' wife being a shield maiden, but, Estrid looked up at the keep, where could she have gone if she fought back? Must have been biding her time for a chance like this. She takes charge, claims she can shoot, and knows more about the Blight than most. Shaking her head, Estrid called the sailors from the Sappho to her side.

Lys looked towards shore before returning to her cabin, but saw no one outside the cave. The shallop lay on the shingle, its bow out of the water, and its oars shipped. She hurried to her cabin to get Kai and Reina and check on Maric.

x==========x

"Lys, are you sure this will work? What do you know about this woman, Estrid?" Kai stood in front of Reina, arms crossed.

"She's a friend of Isabela's. A good friend, since we saw Isabela after she left Estrid's galley, the Sappho."

"In Denerim, when we met Isabela on the quay? Zev said she had come from a galley."

"I noticed it. A lovely ship. It's too bad she lost it and she's not happy to be here. I do believe her. Unless you have a better idea?"

Kai shook her head and Reina confirmed that Estrid did not condone her father's slave trading. Nicephorus had been contemptuous of the woman, but confident that she would not betray her father. Still, he had advised caution when she might hear them. She knows of the slaves, but no need for her to know the other cargo we carry, he had said.

"Which cargo? The treasure or the prisoner?" Lys asked.

"Both, I think," Reina replied. "They brought the prisoner on board with the elves, yesterday. He's in the cabin across the passageway, but his door is locked."

Kai and Lys exchanged a look. "That won't be a problem," Kai said.

"We have a ship, a captain, scores of elves and a human prisoner to set free and, if we understand correctly, chests of gold and treasure," Lys said, wrapping strips of linen around her hands and left forearm in lieu of the gloves and bracer she usually wore when shooting. "Much of Howe's ill-gotten gains lie in the next cabin in the chests I saw them loading yesterday. They're trying to bring out the last few chests today, but darkspawn have attacked them in the caves. If they survive the 'spawn, we'll see they don't make it to the ship." She finished wrapping her hands. "Estrid doesn't know who I am, only that I'm from Highever and a noble. Thomas did not brag about his bride, it seems. We should keep it that way."

"He didn't," Reina agreed. "Nicephorus advised him to, as he put it, leave Melysande Cousland in her grave for now. He worried that some rumor of your survival would get out and your brother and the queen that was would begin a search. Only the three of us know who you are."

"And the prisoner." Lys said. "Do you know who he is?"

Reina nodded. "Blood of Calenhad and revenge of the old arl. Nicephorus taught me how to preserve the blood."

"No one's taking any more blood!" Lys snapped.

"No, of course not, but why not just sail off now," Reina asked, "before any of them return?"

"The tide's coming in. We can't. With so few crew, we need to row with the tide to get out of this narrow harbor." Seeing Reina's puzzled look, Lys explained that she had grown up on the coast and learned to sail as a child. "My mother sailed a ship against the Orlesians during the Rebellion. She made sure my brother and I could handle a boat. It's been a while, but it's not a skill you lose."

"Do the crew know about the treasure?" Kai asked.

"If they loaded it, they must suspect," Lys replied.

"You going to return it?"

"Some, if we can, but everyone will get a share. We'll worry about that once we get out to sea. Now let's go find some weapons."

Kai smiled as they filed out of the cabin. She had glimpsed the girl she had known in Highever and the woman who had fought the Blight. She's finally got something to fix.

Estrid and seven sailors joined the three women in the captain's cabin. Estrid reported that two of her father's crew declined to join them, despite her warnings about Blight sickness. One had fought back and died, but the other was bound and stowed in a storage locker. below. Estrid had killed the two Blight stricken sailors.

"They'll need to burn," Lys said. "Maybe, if we're successful, we can put them all in the shallop and set it on fire as we leave. Now let's get on deck and watch for them." As they walked, Lys pulled Estrid aside. "Estrid, your father and his crew, if they're not used to fighting darkspawn, it's likely they're infected. Did they wear armor?"

The woman shook her head no. "Some had leather vests, but nothing more. This is a trading ship and the sailors went along to retrieve the chests, not fight."

"So, not even trained to fight?"

"No. This is a fast ship, it can outrun most others it meets. My father's a skillful captain and wise enough to pay the pirates on Estwatch to let him pass unmolested. My four can fight, but I traveled more dangerous waters than he did and I did not always pay Estwatch."

Lys smirked. "You and Isabela?"

Estrid's eyes widened. "You know Isabela?"

"We've met. At the Pearl in Denerim. We sparred a bit." Lys' lips quirked at Estrid's skeptical look. "I wasn't pregnant then."

Estrid laughed. "No, I would think not."

"Captain," one of Estrid's crew called. "There's fighting on shore."

They rushed out of the cabin to see Captain Ranulf, Nicephorus, and Thomas running for the shallop, while the guards and sailors fought a rear-guard defense against a large group of darkspawn. As they watched, an arrow caught Thomas between his shoulder blades and he went down. Nicephorus and the Captain each grabbed an arm and hoisted the young man into the shallop as the defenders behind them fell to the genlocks and hurlocks converging on the boat. Thomas fell into a heap in the water puddled along the centerboard. Lightning broke over the other two men as they tried to clamber over the bow of the shallop. They fell back and turned to fight, as the last of the guards joined them.

Kai and Lys looked at each other. "Emissary," they said in unison.

As they watched, Nicephorus stiffened, his arms falling to his sides.

"What is that?" cried Estrid.

"Darkspawn magic," Lys explained. "I think that spell is crushing Nicephorus. The Emissary would want the mage incapacitated, so it uses a crushing spell, followed by more lightning, which bounces from one man to another, causing wounds."

"You sound like you believe it can reason."

"Up to a point, it can. It knows how to fight and use its skills."

As she spoke the darkspawn fell upon the men by the boat. Everyone on the ship stared at the scene in shocked silence. Finally, Lys took a deep breath and said, "Reina, can you reach the shallop with a fireball?"

Eyes widening as she understood, she nodded. "I think so. The sail should catch."

"Good." As Lys spoke, Kai began ripping apart the linen tunic she held, dipping each strip into a pot of lamp oil. She gave the strips to Lys to wrap around her arrows, as Reina cast a fireball towards the shallop's sail.

"A few flaming arrows will help it along and keep the 'spawn away. They hate water and I've never seen them sail, but not worth taking any chances." She loosed a half dozen flaming arrows as the shallop caught and blazed, driving the darkspawn back towards the tunnel and burning any human or 'spawn in or near the boat.

Later, she found Estrid watching the still smoldering boat, red coals flickering just beyond the reach of the waves lapping at the remains of shallop and men. Only partially destroyed, Lys guessed that water had filled the bottom of the shallop and the tide had kept its lower strakes too wet to burn. Kai had mentioned that the women from the barracks were not on the ship, but having no way to get to shore, she could not see if anyone still lived anywhere in the Orphanage.

"I'm sorry, Estrid."

"He dug his own grave," she murmured.

"And he was your father." Lys held out a cloak Kai had brought to her.

"Thank you." Estrid took the cloak, wrapped it around herself and looked at Lys, head cocked. "You don't mourn at all?"

"No. Thomas, even as a boy, hurt anything he touched. He had too much of his father in him. He had to know darkspawn lurked in the caves, yet his greed drove him back again and again. He killed all those soldiers and your father and his sailors. I'm just grateful he didn't harm Kai and that his prisoner survives."

"Yet you carry his child."

"Yes. I haven't figured out how I feel about that. Right now, all I feel is relief. I'm not dead. I'm no longer a prisoner. We have a ship - and a very small crew, but a ship none-the-less. The elves can help us row out to sea when the tide turns." She nodded towards the elves, who had been released from the cramped covered area in the bow and come up on deck. "They may not be much use once we're under sail, but they can sit on the benches and pull. For the first time in six months I have hope."

"We should sail on the tide," Estrid agreed. "Will you and your servant-"

"-friend, not servant," Lys corrected. "She only played that role to keep safe."

"Have you decided where we're going?"

"Let's get out to sea and then drop anchor and talk. I have some ideas and maybe a proposition for you. In the meantime, are there any empty barrels or chests?"

"Probably," Estrid said, cocking her head.

"The two Blighted sailors' bodies, they should burn, but until we can get them ashore, we should keep them contained. Kai can help you get them in the chests and lash the chests on deck." We'll give pills to Estrid, the crew and any elves who help. Frowning, she worried how long her supply would last. No matter, I can get to Areth when we're in Higheverport. I'll figure out the rest, a safe place for Kai, Maric and me, once we get the elves to safety.

The two-masted caravel had oars to use when maneuvering under sail became impossible. The elves could, indeed, help row and did so enthusiastically when they realized they sailed towards freedom somewhere in Ferelden. When the inlet finally widened sufficiently to allow Estrid, now a Captain again, to raise sails, the elves remained on deck to eat, sleep and simply revel in doing as they pleased. Estrid allowed it as long as they kept out of the way of the sailors. A few elves had some sailing experience, from their days before enslavement, and offered to help. The Captain accepted gratefully. Even with the elven volunteers, she had only thirteen sailors to sail a sixty-foot-long craft.

As the mainland faded behind them, in the waters between Brandel's Reach and Alamar, they dropped anchor, well before the sun reached its zenith. Rowing with the early morning tide, before sunrise, had let them raise sails just as the breeze freshened and filled their sails. Ordering the cook to serve a full mid-day meal, despite the early hour, she, Reina and Kai sat around the table in the captain's cabin and looked expectantly at Lys.

"I've looked at the chests to see just how much treasure we own. It's substantial. I must assume the gold came from Tevinter, for slaves and blood, and from skimming Ferelden taxes, theft, and who knows what else. I'd like to return it. By that I mean some to the Ferelden government, some to Amaranthine, some to Highever, some to the Denerim, Highever, and Amaranthine Alienages that Howe ravaged, and some to us.

"First, I propose each crew member and elf get five sovereigns - or rather its equal in a mix of silvers and coppers, so they aren't accused of theft. Is that fair?"

"There's that much?" asked Estrid.

"This represents years, perhaps decades, of theft by Rendon Howe," Lys said. "One cask holds ledgers with all the records. He documented his thievery, but returning what he stole to individuals…that would be impossible. I thought…well, I have contacts in Cumberland at a merchant bank. If they hold the money they can distribute it, anonymously. It can help Ferelden recover from the Blight.

"Estrid, this is your ship, by right of inheritance, to sell or keep, so I don't include it in the treasure. Your share can help you get started again, with this ship or a new galley. If you want, I could help you get a contract with House Haris."

"House Haris! They don't contract with just anyone."

"No, they don't, but I am not just anyone and they will take my word. The only condition is that you tell no one that I helped you or that Kai, the prisoner, and I were even on this ship."

"Agreed," Estrid said.

"Reina, my contacts in Cumberland can help you too, depending on what you want. You can join the wardens there or return to the Circle. Again, you can't tell anyone that I helped."

"I don't know," Reina said. "I never considered returning to the Circle. I couldn't as me - they would send me to Aeonar."

"We can see if there are other ways. Or join the Wardens. Your past won't matter to them:"

"There are wardens in Ferelden."

"You want to see Jowan again?" Kai asked.

Reina sighed. I hadn't thought about them knowing Jowan, but they know all the wardens in Ferelden. Did he tell them about me?

"We met before, Reina, just after the attack on Highever," Kai added. "I was with a Dalish scouting patrol and you -"

Reina's eyes grew wide, recalling the Dalish elves who had discovered her hiding place. "-I was in a hunting camp in the Coast Range. That was you?"

"Long story, but, yes, that was me. Your hair is memorable and Jowan told us your name when he told his story."

Reina snorted. "My hair's been my bane since Jowan forced me out of the Tower. The elf with the white hair appeared on the posters Nicephorus put up in Highever. Marjolaine offered the only way out when she visited. May I think on your offer? Not the leaving you anonymous part, but which I should take."

"No need to decide until we get to Cumberland. Which leads me to my final suggestion. We should leave the elves in Higheverport. They'll be better treated there than in Amaranthine and have more opportunity to return home, if they still have one, set up businesses, or buy homes or farm holds."

Kai gave Lys a sidelong glance. "Slight bias in your thinking?"

"No. Arl Nathaniel and Bann Delilah will make changes in Amaranthine, but it will take time to change the peoples' attitudes. Highever already accepts elven merchants, artisans and farmers, grudgingly sometimes, but better there than elsewhere. The Felicissima Armada's blockade stopped Howe from sending Highever elves to Tevinter, so the Alienage is well populated, unlike Amaranthine City's which Howe depopulated. The elves will fare better in Higheverport and from there they can go where they will."

Estrid looked at the three women, confused. "You're from Higheverport then?" she asked.

Lys nodded. "But I'm not going home. The prisoner and I will go to Cumberland, if you'll sail there. Reina and Kai can come with us or not as they chose." She looked at Kai. "I thought maybe you could help the elves settle and then find Zev."

Kai laughed. "If you think you're having that baby without me being there, think again, but why won't you go home?"

"I might, but not right away. The prisoner needs time to adjust and…what do I say about the baby?"

"I can help with that," Reina said. "It's not Thomas'. "

No one spoke for a long time. Lys looked from Reina to her belly, rubbing it as the baby kicked. "But-"

"-I told Thomas and Nicephorus that you were not pregnant to protect you after they captured you. That was not true. You were pregnant. A few weeks, a month at most, but I wanted to keep you and the baby safe. Thomas would have beaten you in his rage, if he had known. A miscarriage would have been the best outcome."

"Couldn't Nicephorus-"

Reina laughed. "That man couldn't diagnose a hangnail on his little finger. He had no idea." Reina leaned over and patted Lys' bulge. "You're six months gone."

Lys stared at her belly. "It's Ali's?" She looked at Kai, who broke out in a huge grin.

"That's good, right? Lys?"

Lys looked up and shook her head, tears beginning to run down her cheeks. "I need to tell Ma…the prisoner." She got up and hurried out of the room.

"The prisoner?" Reina asked.

"He's a relative of sorts," Kai answered. "It's all very complicated. The baby's father is dead, and now it's even less likely that she'll go home, but she and the prisoner will have the baby."

Estrid stood, shaking her head. "You've all confused me. I'm a simple ship captain. I agree with Lys' suggestions, so I guess we head for Higheverport. I'd rather go there than Amaranthine. It's a bigger port, I can find the crew I need, and we can sail on to Cumberland." She looked at Kai. "Does she really have contacts at House Haris?"

Kai nodded.

Estrid headed towards the door as she continued speaking. "We need to sail on. If we stay too long we'll find raiders from Brandel's Reach or Alamar sailing out to check on us. They're not pirates, exactly, but they prey on any damaged or lost ship that strays too near. We'll use the rest of the daylight to move beyond their reach."

Lys closed the door to Maric's room behind her, not surprised to find the cabin empty. Like the elves, Maric preferred the open air. She found him on deck, chatting with a group of elves, and said she needed to talk with him. He followed her back to his cabin.

x==========x

"Sit," she ordered.

"You're ordering me?"

"I am." She maneuvered herself onto his bunk to sit, angling her body so that she could face him. "Do you want to go home? Can you?"

"To Ferelden? No. I'd just attract more Tevinter attention from this Tevinter mage who wants my blood. I don't even know who he is."

"I do. Howe kept a record of his…income and its sources. Aurelian Titus is the name of Nicephorus' master or employer or whatever, but I don't know any more than that. I can guess that he will search for you or anyone else carrying Calenhad's blood. Any direct descendants at least."

"Then, no. I can't go home. Even without that threat, imagine the uproar I'd cause."

"It would be a good uproar, but not with this Magister seeking you." She covered her face with her palms and took a deep breath. "And you can't be Maric. You'll be Meran, but I will be Lys. I'm tired of not being me." She flicked her hand at Maric's surprised look. "It's a common enough name. Short for Lysa or Elyssa, if I need a formal name." She fell silent, a slight frown creasing her forehead. I keep saying Lys died during Howe's attack, but that's not true. The girl who agreed to an Orlesian marriage died, but she had already been defeated when she agreed to do her duty. After the attack, using Mel hid me, but now I don't have to hide myself. And my duty is to me, my child, Maric and Kai. I'm Lys. I have a child to raise. I can dance again and fight and tell this baby stories about its father and the stars and satellites, and be me while I do so, even if no one in Ferelden knows I'm alive. "No one will be looking for me," she continued. "I'm dead, and Thomas told no one at the Orphanage who I was. As we're obviously Fereldan, we'll be from…um…White River. I'm a widow and you're my good father. Meran and Lys of White River. It's close enough to Denerim that Kai can be from there too, which fits her accent, and yours, and its far enough north to fit mine. We're refugees from the Blight. We'll figure out the rest as we go. First, we must free the elves and then we'll ask Cousin Samuel for help.

Maric smiled. "I don't know whether to call you Eleanor or Loghain - you have shades of both. And who's Cousin Samuel?"

"Samuel Haris, the head of the House, Mum's cousin and mine. We can trust him. I worked for him as Layne Haris after Cailan sent Papa away." Her head tilted as she considered what he had said. "I don't mind being like Mum, but, Loghain-"

"-right," he said softly, a slight frown appearing, "but indulge me, it's been six years since I've had conversations with anyone but myself. I find I think out loud. I mean my friend, and yours, not Howe's puppet. Loghain often saw the necessities I…overlooked. That's all I meant. I suppose I need to remember the damage he's done recently."

"It was the blood magic influencing him, but sometimes it's hard to remember the man I knew as a child."

"He always had a ruthless steak," Maric replied. "Always in service to Ferelden…or me…or Rowan, never himself, but there, none-the-less. From what you've said, Howe used that and his fear of Orlais."

"Fear?"

"Fear. Fear the Occupation would be repeated. It's not rational, which may be why he succumbed to the mages' influence. For all his veneer of control, Loghain is a deeply emotional man. Emotions he rarely expresses." Maric smiled. "Except around you - at least you as a child. You brought out the best in us both. We should try to remember the best about him."

Nodding, Lys changed the subject. "We have someone besides ourselves to protect."

"Your baby, yes, I know that."

"Your grandson."

He stared at her, brow furrowing as, uncomprehending, his head tilted to one side. "My-"

"-I just found out. The child is Alistair's, not Thomas'. It's Ali's." She took his hand and put it on her belly. "Wait for it. It kicks all the time. It's Ali's and mine."

"Are you convincing me or yourself?" he asked, grinning as the baby kicked.

"Both. Reina lied to keep me…us, safe. Thomas would have never let another's child live. You can help me take care of Ali's child."

"A second chance?"

"Sort of. A gift to him, at least."

"Fiona's grandchild. He or she might have magic."

"That…we can worry about that later. Other threats are more immediate."

"What threats?"

"This child will carry the blood that Aurelian Titus and Orlais both want. The Chantry and Orlais tried to capture Ali and they will try to take his child. Why wouldn't this Tevinter magister try to take you both? We need to stay hidden. Neither of us can go home."

The former king, once called Maric, sat silently and then nodded. "Maren it is then, Lys. Where do we go? Where is this Cousin Samuel?"

"Cumberland, but first we take the elves to Higheverport," she said and proceeded to tell Maric her plan.

A/N: Thank you for reading. Thanks to my wonderful betas Kira Tamarion and Elyssa Cousland whose efforts make this a better story. Any errors are mine.

I hope you continue to read and enjoy.