9:31 Firstfall 16th

You would think that I would get used to the fact that I tend to follow this tale wherever I go. Of course I did chose to go at that moment. I had to, otherwise, I didn't know when I would get the chance again.

I also didn't think that I would end up on top of Sundermount looking at Hawke, Carver, and Bethany.

Flemeth and I had our mysterious conversation that I'm sure no one really followed, thank God. I couldn't forget her words that she whispered to me. There will always be a Hero, there will always be a Champion, and there will always be an -. I couldn't stop glaring at her after she said that. Gone was the weak little girl that was scared of her back in the Wilds. No, I lived through too much shit to be scared of her any longer.

Especially since I wasn't able to stop the events from coming in the first place. Failure on that part for me. I tried, I really did but trying didn't account for much when I still ended up in Kirkwall.

"Did my ears hear correctly? Nia Cousland? Defender of Denerim, sister of King Eren, founder of the farms in Orzammar, and the only human to ever get a vote on being a paragon?"

"The assembly unanimously voted no on that from what I remember." I chuckled, wiping the snow from my shoulders. I felt some of it travel down on my back. It felt chilly.

"Do you know her Varric?" Carver asked. It was odd seeing all three siblings together. After all if Hawke was a fighter then- and if they were a mage-. The weirdest part was the fact that Eva looked exactly like the plain model, minus the blood smear. She had the clearest blue ice eyes I've ever seen. Carver's eyes were a duller shade of blue while Bethany's were more of a honey color.

"Every dwarf knows her! She single handedly saved Orzammar from one of its greatest crisis! The ginormous log up their asses!" Varric laughed.

"You can't put all the glory on me. Derek has made a lot of changes himself. I only gave him the base for him to start on."

"Hey I owe you a caste so you're alright on my book."

"Nice to see I made a new friend so quickly."

"Oh where are my manners? Varric Tethras. Writer, merchant, and business investor." Varric said, holding out his hand. I gave him a good handshake.

"If there are any more introductions, my name is Bethany. This is my brother Carver and my older sister Eva."

"I'm Merrill." We bowed at the same time.

"Nia Cousland…why does that sound so familiar?" Eva said, getting into a thinking pose.

"You don't read enough of the papers do you? Nia Cousland is the adoptive sister of King Eren, the Hero of Ferelden. She was one of the people who were there when he killed the Archdemon!" Bethany said, nearly face palming herself.

"Not to mention the other stories along with the Hero of Ferelden." Carver mumbled.

"Oh so that's where I heard the name." I shook my head. "Wait how do we know it's really you and not some imposter?"

"Who goes around saying that they're a princess with absolutely no power? Also," I reached into my pack. I never left anywhere with my royal tube. I grabbed at it and gave it to her. She gave me a disbelieving look before taking out the royal papers, enchanted seal and all. All three of the siblings eyes widened.

"You're really her!" Carver exclaimed.

"Enchanted seal and everything. So professional." Hawke chuckled, putting the papers back into the secure tub and giving it to me.

"Wow, a princess! If Asha'Bellanar personally helped you here, you must be in her good graces." Merrill said.

"That's probably the farthest I can think of when she thinks of me." I mumbled.

"What was that conversation about anyway? So cryptic and secretive."

"It's a secret." Varric laughed.

"We have to get her on our team Hawke, trust me. If there's anyone that knows Deep Roads, it's this one."

"God the Deep Roads, the smell will forever be ingrained in my memory." I rubbed my face.

"So you have experience?" Bethany said, coming up to me.

"Loads of experience."

"I'm looking for loads of experience for an expedition, if you care to join us." I shrugged.

"Sure, I'm always looking toward another reason to have nightmares." Hawke chuckled.

"Then I'm sure we'll be fast friends."

"Do you have many stories about the blight? My clan had to move here once my keeper sensed the corruption in the land. It was sad. I lived in Ferelden for such a long time before our move. Where do you hail from?" Merrill rambled.

"I'm not from Ferelden. I come from a land far from here."

"The Anderfels?"

"No, her accent isn't from there at all." Carver said.

"She looks Antivan." Eva said.

"Her eyes aren't the same as the rest." Bethany said. I chuckled at their guessing.

"So where you from princess?"

"Don't call me that. Far, far away."

"You like your secrets don't you?"

"Can't be without them. A secret is what makes a woman, a woman."

"But if you have too many secrets, won't you get tired not being able to tell anyone anything?"

"It depends how many you have." I said. Varric chuckled. We went down through the cave and down the path to the Dalish clan. Bethany almost slipped a few times and Carver had to hold on to her as the ice became slick.

"You guys can head on to the road, I'll talk with the Keeper." Hawke said. I saw how the Dalish looked at us with outright hatred. I remembered how much it hurt me to go through a clan like this, now it rolled off my back. I heard a few of them whispering about the armor I had on. There was no doubt that they recognized it as their handiwork.

"What kind of knives are those?" Carver asked as we came out of the camp.

"Knuckle daggers." I said, taking them out, twirling them before they settled on my knuckles.

"Nice knives, Knives." Varric said.

"Hm, that one I like." Hawke and Merrill came by.

"All right, now let's get out of this cold before our asses freeze shall we?" Hawke said.

"How do you know Flemeth anyway?" Bethany asked.

"You've heard how Flemeth saved the Hero and the other Grey Wardens from the tower of Ishal right? We had to go down to Ostagar again and passed by her hut in the Wilds. That's when I first met her…and then we killed her."

"You what?" Carver wondered.

"But she was alive just a few minutes ago." Merrill said.

"Well she transformed into a dragon and the Hero with the other Grey Wardens and our companions killed her or at least I thought they did. I got hit by her tail and got myself doused in swamp water. Ugh, the smell was on my clothes for at least a week."

"I could only imagine the stories you have." Varric said.

"I have tons of stories. I'll tell you if you're that interested. Ah crap, Flemeth brought me here and I have absolutely nowhere to crash at!"

"Don't look at us. Our hovel can barely support all of us, our mother, our greedy uncle, and our mabari." Carver said.

"My mabari you mean." Hawke said proudly. Carver sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Tough luck Junior. Maybe a wild one will take a liking to you." Varric said.

"I always like the mabaris back in Ferelden. You can always talk to them and they'll listen to you aptly." Merrill said. We walked along the path that headed toward the great walls of Kirkwall. I have to admit that it was intimidating to see it all in front of them. I clenched at my pack.

Kirkwall. Welcome to hell, drinks later? Of course.

"First time here I take it?" Hawke asked me.

"I didn't travel much after the blight ended. I've heard of Kirkwall. I had a friend who came from the city. Time to see if all the stories were true."

"If you need a place to sleep at, there are a few empty rooms over at the Hanged Man if you're interested." Varric offered.

"I might as well then."

"Come on Merrill. Unfortunately, there's only one place where elves can stay at in the city." Hawke said. "Varric, Nia. I'll see you two later if another job comes up." The three Hawke siblings left us at the beginnings of Lowtown. I let out a yawn.

"Man it's cold."

"That's winter for you. Come on, I'll show you to the best place in all of Kirkwall." There were many people around in Lowtown. They weren't kidding when many Fereldans came as refugees. The place was swarming with them.

"Why do the Fereldans linger? The country is doing well and I hear that the restoration of Southern Ferelden is going well."

"Money, Knives. None of these people have it unfortunately. They sold off all their belongings to come here and now can't afford to go back. You have to do what you can to make a living." Varric shrugged. I saw the sign for the Hanged Man and…it was a man hanging from his foot. We came in and it was much warmer in the tavern than outside. I went up to the owner and requested a room, giving him a week's worth of rent. I saw a few people eyeing me but I ignored it. Varric motioned me to follow him and we went into his own room.

"Nice place you have here."

"Thank you. The Hanged Man has been my home for a very long time. So, what's your real story?" I raised my eyebrow. "I'm sure you can spin a lie about how you asked Flemeth to bring you here for some odd reason but no one can reason with a witch like her."

"She took a liking to me." I said, setting down my pack and sitting at the table he had. Varric waited for me to say something. I sighed. "You really don't want to hear it do you? It's kinda unbelievable."

"Try me."

"You know who I am. I'm Nia Cousland but before that I was just a young woman, dazed and confused, bleeding and trespassing in Highever Castle. I spent a few years there with the Cousland family and Eren Cousland, the King of Ferelden, as a handmaiden then as a bodyguard. Then we got the news of a blight and they were going to send their men to war."

"I know about the massacre." Varric said softly.

"Yeah. I saved Eren and his nephew Oren and made an oath to his mother that I would protect them both. We went down to Ostagar to try to find his brother Fergus. I found myself in Lothering, waiting for Eren to get back."

"Wait, you were in Lothering before it got destroyed?"

"Yep. It was a nice town. Once Eren and the other Grey Wardens, Talen, Derek, and Alistair as well as our other companions came together, we went off to the Circle. Once we were done there, we found a man that had information about a few allies we would have had if not for Loghain's betrayal. The others wanted to go. I followed them. Flemeth's hut was near Ostagar so we stopped there while we let the Grey Wardens to their business."

"And that's where you met her then?" I nodded. "How does one woman gain the attention of someone like her?"

"An irregularity is what she called me. An impossibility. I'm not supposed to exist. I'm not supposed to be here but I am." I shrugged.

"Ok you've lost me."

"I'm not from around here. I'm from another world." Varric gave me a look before bursting out laughing. I chuckled as well.

"You almost had me!"

"Let's just say that Flemeth has an interest in me because I'm not normal."

"You don't see to be normal either but as long as you don't bring too much trouble with you, then it's alright. After all, I do owe my merchant caste to you, as much as I hate it."

"You don't owe me anything." I chuckled. "It was Derek that took my idea and made it come true. I was surprised he took me seriously. I nearly fell off my seat when I heard that Bhelen actually agreed."

"Bhelen and Derek, a king and a Grey Warden, working side by side to make our people flourish." Varric said. "That qualifies as a drink. What would you like?"

"Nothing unless you got something non-alcoholic."

"You don't drink Knives?"

"Last time I did, I ended up losing a week in Denerim." Varric laughed. "I still can't remember everything. Thanks for the offer, but I would like to at least settle down."

"I'll keep you updated on our expedition. Don't get cold feet on us yet." Varric said. I nodded. I went to a room that was adjacent to his. It was small, the bath, bed, and table all in one room. I set my pack down and sat on the bed. I opened my pack. Only the essentials were in there for a small outing. I was only packing to go out to camp and take down that smuggler's nest that Nathaniel told me about.

Vigil's Keep. I needed to remind myself to send letters back there so they would know where I went to. I couldn't even leave them a note because of how random it was.

Kirkwall. This is where it all-.

I pray it will be enough.

-/-

"Huh, that's weird. I noticed that there are a few rubbed out sentences or words." Varric said, combing through the entries.

"They were given to me like that. No doubt that she went through her own writing and took vital information out." Cassandra said. No this wasn't her Varric thought, not in her condition at least.

"Did Talen know about this?"

"Even he did not know what she was hiding. I'm surprised that she doesn't have much of a role in your book."

"What can I say? She was a very private person, in the good sense at least. She always liked to keep herself humble, away from the attention that the Champion got."

"Yet I hear minor stories from everyone who knew her."

"She liked to meddle in other people's affairs." Varric said, choosing his words wisely.

"But she was also there when it happened. Meredith detained her."

"True but she escaped and then went off to help the Champion but that's not where we are in the story." Cassandra gave him a glance.

"Continue."

"At least give me something to nibble on or at least water. All this bright light is making me thirsty." Cassandra crossed her arms. Varric sighed. "Ok Seeker, now, where did we last leave off?"

-/-

9:31 Firstfall 16th

"How are you settling in?" Hawke asked. She came by after dropping off Merrill in the Alienage.

"So far so good. I have a roof over my head, something warm to eat. The cot is a bit rougher than what I'm used to." I said, sitting on the chair with my soup on the table. I have to say, Kirkwall does the soup better than they did in Ferelden. Hawke laughed.

"You were with the Hero and Defenders right?"

"Is that what they call the Grey Wardens nowadays?"

"From what people around here heard only the ones that defeated the Archdemon, yes. There's the Hero of Ferelden, now King Eren, or King Cousland. Then there's the Defenders of Denerim which falls on all of you that followed the Grey Wardens. Is it true what they say about the Grey Warden mage Talen? He made the Circle of Magi in Ferelden free?"

"Yes, he is also a close friend of mine."

"Well you are a princess so you know influential people." Hawke said, sitting on the only other chair provided for me.

"In name only. Eren adopted me before he signed the papers before he was crowned king. They had to make me a princess by default. It took them a full month to settle on me being a princess but with no power." I explained.

"You are odd one. I've never seen a princess wearing armor like that or even able to wield blades."

"I am but a simple woman looking for her place in life." I said flatly. Hawke chuckled.

"How much do you know of the Deep Roads?"

"Enough to dislike them greatly. They are beautifully carved when you find them intact but when you find them infested with darkspawn, it's a whole different story. The walls have this black grease to them, the stench could burn off your hair, and the tendrils you sometimes find running through the walls…ugh…not to mention that giant spiders usually make themselves home to them."

"How enchanting." Hawke said flatly.

"You don't get used to them trust me." Hawke rubbed her chin in thought as I ate the spoonful of soup systematically.

"You're no fun in conversations."

"Sorry, I've had a rough few weeks before I came here. I was at Vigil's Keep before I got swept away here."

"Vigil's Keep? The one that was almost overrun by darkspawn?"

"The one and only." Hawke laughed.

"How is it that you are where chaos hits?"

"It's a curse really." I whined.

"I was wondering Nia, if you would like to join me in a frolic out of the city. My friend Aveline has told me of a problem she was having out of the city."

"Sure, I'll tag along. You don't have to ask you can just say, 'Hey, I need you to punch things in the face for me,' and I'm your woman." Hawke laughed.

"I'll make sure to remember that. Come on then. It's probably best if you left your things with Varric. People in the Hanged Man tend to get grabby even in the best of times." Hawke and I left my room and I grabbed my pack.

"Hawke, come here to see little old me?"

"I have a job to get to with Aveline, care to join?"

"Of course. With you around there are bound to be opportunities around the corner."

"Varric, can I leave my things here?"

"Go ahead. I'll make sure to lock up good and tight so nothing can get stolen." Varric said. I dropped by pack near where his bed was. He locked up his room and we came out of the Hanged Man.

"Aveline should be waiting for us at the city gates." Hawke said.

"I have to admit, I've never gone out too much of the city since I've met you Hawke. First Sundermount now another pass in the mountains? My poor legs are going to give out."

"Then you would have killed yourself if you were a Grey Warden. All they do is walk." I chuckled. We came to the city gates and I saw Aveline in full armor. It made me feel small. I was about as tall as Merrill and that meant that both Hawke and Aveline were taller than me by a few inches.

"Hawke, Varric, and…someone new I presume." Aveline said.

"Nia, Aveline, Aveline, Nia." I crossed my arms and bowed to her. Aveline looked at me up and down.

"The crown princess of Ferelden?" I had a look of surprise.

"Wow, I didn't think people recognized me out of the woodwork."

"Not many do but I do keep up with the events happening in Ferelden. I have heard of what you have done along with the Grey Wardens and the King. It is an honor to meet you." I felt uncomfortable when Aveline bowed to me. It was unexpected to say the least.

"The honor is mine."

"And honor for everyone! Now, where did you say that patrol was Aveline?" Hawke said.

"It should be passing Sundermount and the Dalish. It's a bit of a walk." Aveline described as we came out.

"Well Aveline as long as we don't get lost, then lead the way." Varric said. We walked a good distance away, traveling the path where both merchants and people often walked. Aveline kept on glancing over to me as we walked.

"You can talk to her Aveline. I'm sure she won't bite much." Hawke said.

"I'm sorry your highness."

"Don't start with that. You know that I'm a princess in name only."

"But you joined the King and the other Grey Wardens to the top of the tower to defeat the Archdemon and lived. That was no easy feat."

"It was unnerving and scary."

"So what does the Archdemon look like?" Varric asked.

"It by most accounts looks like a dragon but it's not a dragon. It has rough spikes and scales all over its body, its muscles and sinews in plain view. You can feel…the darkness rolling off of its body. It's a monster in all accounts and even that isn't the best way to describe it."

"And yet you went up to the top of the tower and helped kill it."

"I shot ballista after ballista at it but it still stood after getting hit over twenty times with it."

"Were you scared?" Aveline asked.

"Terrified."


I hope the tone hasn't unnerved anyone.

Shout out to kali yugah, Taffy and Sweetrolls, Luna-Zeta, manosad, naturaetsophia, Hirdas, Undeadhero143, NamelessOne0, R3d0X, Grey Blazar, Narliea, Chimera Spyke, PFCDontKnow, FearaNightmare, Buggy300, Doombug, Noswald, potatozrule Anemone Iris Sidera, White Story, Nyce, Nikanox, Catann985, and Holliden for favoriting/following! I love all you guys!

Undeadhero143: Ha! Feel the feels! You don't know how happy that makes me, your tears make me happy! In a good way, I swear. No comment on the character deaths :3
Chimera Spyke: That's what I had so much fun writing about! Things still happen but in a different way, you'll hate me and love me once we get to that point.
ThelonewolfNT: It's going to take years for Nia to be herself again and then Kirkwall will shit on her either way because Kirkwall is Kirkwall.
Buggy300: I enjoyed writing the different POV which will crop up every so often. Well to learn everything you just have to keep reading :3
Noswald: Varric didn't rip out the pages but it was the earlier pages of Amaranthine if you're curious.
Anemone Iris Sidera: We won't find out until much later :3

Thank you Taffy and Sweetrolls, EG (I like Fenria lol), and White Story for revewing!