It has been three months since the Mother was killed and Solona Amell was sitting in her room at Vigil's Keep, looking over reports on everything she needed to know about the arling. Progress on rebuilding the City of Amaranthine, which, despite how she felt, she ordered burned to the ground, was ongoing. In her head she knew it was the right decision. The Vigil was the center of power for the arling and the Fereldan Grey Wardens both so it couldn't be allowed to fall. But as she ordered the city burned, watched the soldiers load and aim the ballistas, then saw them launch their flaming cargo into the city, she had a sick feeling in her stomach. A feeling that told her that anyone who survived the darkspawn as going to die anyway, because she ordered it. Everyone said the city was lost, that there wouldn't be any survivors, but she knew there were people still alive.

She had to shake it off. What's done is done. Snap out of it! She skipped over the rest of the reports and put them aside, to be read later. As she picks up the reports, she accidentally drops one on her desk. Putting the stack down, she reaches for the dropped report and something written on it catches her eye. The report says that Anders has, somehow, disappeared without a trace. The report hinted towards rumors that Anders was working with someone named Jennifer Hawke in Kirkwall and included a bio on Hawke, including her known relatives and associates. An elf named Fenris, a dwarf by the name of Varric Tethras, Isabela, another elf named Merrill, her sister Bethany, Guard-Captain Aveline Vallen, her mother Leandra, and her uncle, Gamlen Amell.

"Amell? No. No, it has to be a coincidence," she thought out loud. She read and re-read the name, unsure whether this was a prank or a misprint. Nathaniel was in Kirkwall before he came back here, right? He might know about this Gamlen. Solona picks up the report and heads out of her room. As she opens the door, she almost runs into Alistair, clad in his royal armor.

"You in a rush Solona?" Alistair asks with a chuckle.

"Alistair? What are you doing here? I hope this isn't a formal visit. You know how much I hate being formal."

"Just checking in. Is something wrong? You got that look on your face that you get when you have other things on your mind."

"It's personal. Nothing you need to worry about."

"Tell me anyway. You know I won't leave you alone until you do." Alistair lets out a small laugh that only makes Solona want to tell him more.

"Damn it. You know that little laugh of yours always makes me want to tell you stuff!" Solona complains.

"Oh does it now?" Alistair teases.

"Curse you… Fine, I'll tell you."

"Oh, wait a moment. Let me grab a seat," Alistair continues teasing.

"Oh, ha ha. Very funny," Solona replies, sarcastically.

"I do my best!"

"Do you want me to tell you or not?"

"Alright, I'll shut up. Go ahead."

"Ok. Well, Anders disappeared and, apparently, there are rumors he is working with some woman named Jennifer Hawke."

"How is this personal?"

"I'm getting to that. This Hawke women lives in Kirkwall with her mother, her sister, and her uncle, Gamlen Amell."

"Amell? Isn't your last name Amell?"

"Now you see why this is personal?"

"Oh… I suppose you want to see if they are actually related to you? Maybe meet them?"

"I want to know more about them first. Then I'll decide if I want to meet them."

"I might be able to help you with that."

"What do you mean?"

"I heard about the Amells from Eamon when I was younger. If I remember right, they are a important noble family in Kirkwall. Their eldest was supposed to marry the Comte de Launcet before she ran away with some other man."

"So I'm… descended from nobility?"

"If you're the same Amell, then yes."

"I wonder if they would recognize me…"

"Uh, I don't think it's a good idea to go to Kirkwall. The city is literally crawling with Templars. And Knight-Commander Meredith is not exactly the most friendly person. Especially around mages."

"I'll just have to be careful then, won't I?" Solona walks past Alistair, dropping the report as she goes. Alistair picks up the report and catches up to Solona, matching her pace.

"Are you sure about this? Do you need any help?"

"Alistair, everything I have done; stopping the Blight, saving Vigil's Keep, killing the Mother, I have done with other people's help. Not because I wanted to, but because it is my duty to save people. I want- no, I need- to do this for myself. I never had a family. In the Circle, I always felt alone. In the Wardens, I'm not alone, but I don't feel like I belong. I need to find a place where I belong and I'm not alone."

"I… understand. But who will run the arling while you are gone?"

"Probably Nathaniel. Oghren is too immature and Velanna left after we killed the Mother to go find her sister. Justice is gone too and Sigrun doesn't seem to understand the surface enough."

"Isn't Nathaniel a Howe?"

"Yes, but he is nothing like his father. I trust him." They round a corner and come out into the main hall before stopping near a pillar and facing each other.

"I'm guessing you'll be leaving right now?"

"That's the plan. I'm going to take my ship to Kirkwall. At least Amaranthine's harbor has been rebuilt."

"I still can't believe you burned down the city. I understand why, but I can't believe it."

"Neither can I. Sometimes it seems like it was all a dream… or a nightmare."

"I'm glad it wasn't me making the decision. Burn a city to save your army, or let them die to save a few survivors… That's a tough decision."

"Don't remind me… Well, I'd better get ready to head to Kirkwall."

"Yes, I have to leave too. Good luck."

"Thank you. Bye." Alistair hands the report back to Solona, turns, and walks out the front doors of the main hall, flanked by his royal guard. Damn that armor makes him look good. She shakes the thought from her mind. Ugh… That one always sneaks up on me.