"Wake up...!"

For the second time within the span of a few hours Letholin was woken up by the very whispers that signifies his death. With a small groan he lifted his head off of the desk in the library. For a moment he looked around the room in confusion. 'Did I really pass out on my desk again?' He asked himself before he began to rub his eyes in an attempt to wake up.

Afterwards he began to try and remember what happened last night. However for a few moments he drew a blank, it wasn't until he felt a sudden headache that he cared to even notice the half empty bottle of wine sitting on his desk. "Oh..." He said out loud before getting out of his chair slowly. He suddenly began to remember that he felt the need to have a drink. He was hoping that he could drink his problem away, which was something that reminded him of an old friend of his.

For a few minutes Letholin just stood at his desk staring at the book that was open, he noticed that it was on a page that gave possible leads on how to cure the Calling. He wanted to tell himself that he could possibly find it with one of those leads, but he already knew the answer: they weren't. He distinctly remembered following every single one of them and coming up with next to nothing in the end.

"You know how to end this."

The whisper was faint, fainter than those from before. For a moment Letholin glanced down to the bottle in his hand before shrugging and taking another sip. Sure it was still in the morning but if it helped suppress the whispers a bit then it to be worth the trouble.

Overall Letholin began to realize that the Calling was a rude awakening for him. For the first time in years he truly felt mortal, and he hated that, he felt like he was being cheated, he felt like he deserved more time. "But I don't have time..." He muttered to himself before sitting back down in his chair. He began to understand what the Wardens would say about the calling: he truly did feel powerless. He wasn't going to be able to find a cure and he knew it. However he began to get tired of thinking about how little time he had left, instead his mind began to wander to those that he would leave behind and how his death would impact them.

Oghren was holding down the fort as Vigil's keep, the old dwarf was still a drunk, but he also was a respectable warrior (and sometimes) and leader. Sure he was a good substitute for himself when he was gone, but was he a good enough leader? Zevran often visited between jobs, that elf was one of the few that kept Letholin humble, for if he became just as cocky as his friend than there would be a problem. What would happen to Zevran when he was gone, would the Crows finally catch up to him? After all it was Letholin who pulled him out of the fire multiple times, would he be able to do the same thing on his own? He also promised Alistair that he would remain at his side whenever he could and help him, so much for that. Then his thoughts transferred over to Leliana. He simply sighed. He remembered the last time that the two spoke he promised that they would reunite once again and start a family, but alas he wasn't going to be able to fulfill that promise. Almost on queue he heard her voice out from the corner.

"When the Warden and I are together, anything is possible."

Quickly he turned around to look where the voice came from, but he realized that it was just the whispers again and sighed before returning to his original position.

For a few minutes Letholin just spaced out, he didn't want to think about all the people that he would leave behind. But part of him wouldn't allow that, his love was still on his mind. Multiple times that quote rang through his head, where did he hear that? What did it mean? Suddenly his eyes widened, "Leliana!" He exclaimed as if he suddenly realized something.

Last time he was on his own searching for a cure to the Calling, but what if he had help this time? What if Leliana was at his side helping him try to save him? She had connections, no doubt she could find some other lead that he couldn't even fathom to pursue. He needed to see her, he needed her help. At least if she couldn't help save him he would be able to be at her side until the end, at least that would be enough for him.

Quickly Letholin began to pull out some parchment along with his ink and quill. If he was truly not going to live then he needed to end it on his own terms, he needed to say goodbye.

For the next few hours Letholin wrote a handful of letters. Most of which was to the friends he made during the events of the Blight. However there was one letter that was addressed to one of his kin from his old clan: Merrill. She was the only other remaining Dalish from clan Sabrae, and he hated her because of it. He remembered hearing about the slaughter of his clan and how she was apart of it. He remembered hearing that it was all because of the Eluvian and her quest to restore it. It was her actions that caused the death of those he called family, it was her fault that he lost his last connection to his parents.

Needless to say that letter was filled with spite, but he had to write it, who else would he write to? She was the last of the clan besides him, as much as it beat him up on the inside he needed to at least pass the message along to the other clans and let them know that the Calling very well could take his life.

After the letters were all written Letholin had a pretty decently sized stack placed on his desk. He sighed at the thought of what will have to be done if he does not make it, but he didn't like the idea of not saying goodbye. 'It has to be done.' He told himself. 'Just in case I cannot speak to all of them personally before it's too late.'

For some reason he felt glad, and he wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because he now felt like he had properly said goodbye if things take a turn for the worse, or maybe it was because he was going to finally be able to see Leliana after so many months, perhaps it was both.

After he felt satisfied with his letters Letholin placed them in a small lock box that was underneath his desk, he generally put important and personal things in that box. Once he locked it he made sure to put the key in his pocket, he would need it for later.

When he got out of his chair Letholin looked around the small makeshift room he had. He was going to miss it, even if it was rather small he felt like it was home, which was rare now a days. After a few moments he began to make his way back to his room. He had to prepare for his journey.


A little while later Letholin was cleaned up, had his Grey Warden uniform on, had his longsword strapped to his back, and had a small pack slung over his shoulder.

It was still early in the morning but it looked like he was already ready for the day. After a few minutes of walking Letholin was in the door way leading to the dining hall.

The dining hall was a rather plain but large room. Alistair wasn't all that for luxury, but he understood that he was a king so he went along with whatever Arl Eamon advised him to do when Alistair first became king. Even though it was advised that a king should only eat breakfast with his wife Alistair instead chose to eat with the guards and the servants who worked for him at the palace. This was partially due to the fact that he was still not married and he didn't want to eat alone every morning, but it was also because he enjoyed the company of those that worked for him, and he wanted to make sure that they were aware of that.

At the head of the table sat Alistair dressed in his practically iconic red and white uniform. Letholin chuckled to himself, Alistair loved that thing. Also sitting at the table was most of the palace's staff, they all seemed to be having a rather hilarious conversation about their adventures during the Blight.

"And when Morrigan asked him how much longer Letholin replied: Can I get you a ladder, so you can get off my back?"

Most of the room exploded into laughter as Letholin walked into the room. Even he couldn't help but grin at that memory, he remembered it being such a tense moment. Alistair and him were in the middle of closing a rather large door in the deep roads so they stop a group of Darkspawn from advancing any further. Morrigan surely knew how to push everyone's buttons, for the most part he was rather patient with her, but in the heat of the moment he was sort of fed up with her constant pestering.

The arrival of Letholin quieted down most of the laughter however, even Alistair was eyeing him suspiciously, he didn't like the sight of his friend wearing his old uniform again.

Letholin knew the look on Alistair's face and put his hands up. "I only want to talk." He said calmly before glancing over to the others sitting at the table. "Preferably in private."


Letholin and Alistair decided that it would be best to relocate to the palace's garden. Rarely anyone was there in the morning, which meant that they could truly be alone there.

Along the way to the garden the two stayed completely silent. However Alistair's glare said more than enough: he knew what was going on.

Once the two were at the garden Alistair stat down on a bench that overlooked a small pond. Letholin set down his pack next to the bench and placed his arms behind his back in their usual position. He generally stood in a rather business like fashion when he was around the king, he had to keep up appearances and whatnot.

"You know the last time we were here together was the day before you disappeared." Alistair noted before picking up a small handful of pebbles from underneath him.

Letholin cringed at the memory, he remembered saying that he would be out for the night because Leliana went missing and he needed to look for her. But he lied, she didn't go missing, he just needed an excuse to leave. He hated lying to Alistair that night, he hated lying in general.

"Your majesty if I could speak fre-."

Alistiar held up his hand to cut Letholin off, but he didnt speak. Instead he threw a pebble at the pond and it skipped a couple times before it sank. "You also called me majesty that night, the first since you joked about the title when we first arrived at Redcliffe."

Alistair turned slightly to look gravely over to Letholin, he was obviously not happy with how things were turning out with their talk, and Letholin knew that.

"Please, don't address me like a king, talk to me like a friend, you know I hate that." He said right before his face contorted into a rather (surprisingly) friendly and warm one. It was almost like a switch was flipped with the King of Ferelden.

In reaction Letholin lowered his arms a bit into a more informal stance. At least he knew that Alistair wasn't completely mad at him, yet.

"I'm leaving."

Alistair nodded his head before tossing another pebble towards the pond. "I had a feeling that you would say that." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

For a minute or two Alistair and Letholin were still, both waiting for the other to say something. It wasn't until Alistair spoke up and Letholin even thought of muttering a word.

"Can I my friend at least tell me why he is going to suddenly leave even though he has only been back for two weeks?" Alistair's voice was strained, it was like he was holding something back.

Letholin picked this up, but he knew that he had to say it. "No, I cannot." He said before pulling out a key from his pack. "However...I can give you this."

Leaning forward a bit Letholin placed the key on the bench beside Alistair. He glanced at it for a moment but sighed instead of picking it up.

"What does it unlock?" He asked.

"There's a small chest underneath my desk in the library. If I have not contacted you in some way within two months I want you to open it. Inside will explain everything, it will also...ask you to do something."

Alistair picked up the key and played with it in his hands. It was a rather old key, and it almost felt like that it was made out of wood. Suddenly he stood up an faced Letholin before holding out his hand. "I suppose this is goodbye then? I mean, you are going to leave right away, right? At least that's what I think what you're going to due since you have...y'know."

Alistair's reaction to his news was a rather interesting one, he expected the man to act completely different about it. Even though he had no idea what he was leaving he almost seemed to understand in some weird way.

Letholin smiled briefly before shaking his friend's hand.

'You'll never see him again!'

'Shut up.'

Letholin eventually broke off the handshake and picked up his pack, he needed to get going right away if he was going to be able to get to his first stop by nightfall. "Hey, remember that time Barkspawn ran off with your shield thinking that it was some stick?" Letholin asked.

Suddenly the two bursted out laughing as the remembered how long the two had to chase that dog around camp. Alistair laughed so hard that he had to wipe a tear from his eye. "Yeah, why do you ask?"

Letholin winked at him for a bit before suddenly turned around. "Think about it." He said before he began to walk away.

However he only took a few steps before Alistair's voice stopped him. "Can I at least know where you're going?"

Letholin paused for a moment, he had no idea if he could truly answer that question. Sure he had an idea on where his destination was, but would he make it?

"You'll find out soon enough."


Small Cameo of Alistair, hopefully I didn't make him too mopey. :)