A/N So lets just say in my deranged world, Oghren is the First Warden. Oh come on, its fun. Oh, bioware owns all

Varric was in his room, looking over the account books from the last month. Hiding Anders, keeping Merrill safe, and keeping the tax collectors off Fenris's back was growing expensive as the years went on. The deep roads expedition pay off was starting to run out. He'd be in debt three years if something else doesn't come up quick.

"Knock knock." The Reavini pirate queen said from his door.

Varric looked up and smiled, his eyes never fully reaching her face. As a matter of fact, he couldn't tell you what she looked like in a crowd. "Yes, Ravini."

Isabella stuck her thumb over her shoulder. "I got someone here who wants to see you?" He smiled politely but gave a suspicious brow to the two women entering his room. Both had dark hair, dark eyes, same height, but different noses. They could have been cousins. Only, one looked like she had seen a fair share of battles, given the armor and scars on her face, while the other looked like she has never even seen a bandit before. "Don't worry, they're legit." Isabella said as she took a seat at his table and played with a sextant.

Varric stood and welcomed the women into his room. "Please, have a seat." The more feminine one sat down and looked at the dwarf with worried eyes. "What can I do for you?"

The one clad in armor crossed her arms. "Are you Varric Thetras?"

Varric took his seat at the head of the table again and templed his fingers. "I am. And you are?"

"In need of some help. Do you have a map of the deep roads that you excavated some years ago?"

Varric chuckled. "You may want to know that we cleaned out anything that wasn't attached to the floor. Sorry, but you should've come sooner."

The woman raised a brow. "I'm looking for someone who took the same route you did. Do you have a map?"

Varric shook his head. "treasure hunters. When will they learn."

The two women exchanged looks. The soldier one took a deep breath and looked at the dwarf again. Varric looked them over once again. He smirked. "I don't suppose that you will need…an expert of the area?"

"Just a map."

The other woman turned in her chair and took the first woman's arm. "Thess, please, if it will help find Nate faster, we need to do it."

Thess knelt in front of the frantic woman. "I didn't bring much coin, and I expect he's fine."

Varric clapped his hands together. "I'll tell you what." All three women looked at him. "I know of a certain group of adventures that will be more than delighted to help you. Just give us what you can and let us gather all treasure we find in the deep roads. Deal?" Varric smiled at the two women. Isabella chuckled as she used the sextant to get a close up of Varric's chest.

The Thess was skeptical of his 'generosity' while the other looked pleased at him.

"Thank you ser" the sister said.

She was obviously more open. Varric leaned in. "What's your name, miss?" His smile was slyly soft and inviting.

"Deliah Howe, ser."

"Deliah Howe." Varric said dream like. He hopped down from his chair and walked toward the door.

"the map?" the first woman said.

Varric tapped his head. "Its in here. Come on."

The woman groaned and followed the dwarf.

XxXxXxXx

Theresa followed the damn cunning Dwarf from Lowtown to Hightown. And they say Fereldens aren't imaginative. The dwarf lead her to the estate area. Warnings were going off in her head. This is a trap. She needed to get away from him. But he had the map. Just kill everyone else and torture this little man until he begged and then drag him along to be dark spawn food. She mentally gave herself a thumbs up. Not a sound plan, but at least it's a plan.

Varric knocked on the door to an estate covered in ivy and a shield on the door of two birds…fucking? What the hell? What is this place, the Red Falcons of…Desire? Not good.

The door opened and another dwarf answered the door. Wonderful, it's a dwarf gang. Note to self, Kill Isabella for leading her into a trap. Varric exchanged pleasantries with the dwarf who nodded and the duo in.

Varric lead the way into the main seating area only to be attacked from behind. "ENCHANTMENT!" Theresa drew a dagger only to stop and think about it.

"I know that voice." Theresa looked behind her to see a blonde dwarf hugging her from behind. "Sandal?"

Sandal jumped up and down, causing her to hop. "Hero Hero."

Theresa knelt down and gave him a proper hug. "How are you, Sandal?"

The young dwarf clapped eagerly with a huge smile. "Hero Hero!" He exclaimed.

Varric raised a brow at the human. "You uh know each other?"

"They should." Theresa turned to see Hawke at the top of the stairs, slowly making his way down. "They spent nearly a year together."

Theresa stood and was bombarded by Bohdon. "How have you been young miss?"

"You know me, killing this, ridding the blighted earth of that. Normal stuff. We could've used you in Amerithine after the attack."

Bohdon chuckled. "Serah Hawke has kept me and my boy well employed, warden."

Theresa smiled. "I'm glad to hear it."

Sandal hopped again. "Hero Hero." Theresa looked at the young dwarf and reached into one of her belt pockets. She pulled out a small, handkerchief and passed it to Sandal. He opened it and took an intake of air. She patted his head. "Cookies!"

Theresa turned to the champion, who had a female dalish on his arm. "Ma arthurlis decanus, da'lin."

The woman gave a surprised look. "Ma arthurlis decanus." She said slowly.

Hawke raised a brow and smirked. "Wow, Antivan AND dalish."

Theresa shrugged. "I'm awesome like that."

Varric shook his head. "Is there anyone you don't know Hawke?"

Seth smirked. "The list grows smaller by the day. What can I do for you commander?" Varric's eyes went wide at the title and his jaw hit the deep roads.

Theresa smiled at the dwarf. "It would appear that I need your help. I've...lost one of my wardens."

Seth smiled. "I can sympathize. I hate to lose things."She smirked and pinched the bridge of her nose, taking deep breaths. "If you've come here to recruit, don't bother. Anders says that being a warden is a horrible life style for those of us who love sleep."

Varric looked at her and snapped his fingers. "You're THAT commander?" Theresa gave a confused look. He smiled. "Wow, you have got to tell me your stories. I mean, Anders portrayed you as a paragon of battle and love, a goddess of mercy and beauty, but…wow, please tell me your story."

She arched a brow at him. "As payment for the map?"

Varric looked like he was mulling it over. "No."

Seth rolled his eyes. 'Again with the map. You can get it at any vender."

"Except Sol." Merrill said innocently. "He doesn't sell maps."

Varric scratched his head. "She needs a map of the deep roads that we took. And I was wondering if you'd like to help her find who she's missing." Seth's smiled faded and he dropped his arm around Merrill. She looked at him with concern and Theresa became confused. Seth hasn't been down there since Bethany. He's thankfully avoided it for six years. "I understand if you don't want to." Seth clinched his jaw.

"This is obviously a bad idea." Theresa said. "There's a Grey Warden compound in Lowtown. I just need a map of the area."

"We'll take you." He said softly. He looked at Theresa with sad eyes. "We know the area and the deep roads that you need. It won't be a problem."

"Are you sure? I don't want to unnessarly risk your lives." Theresa said.

"its fine."

"No, its not." She said sternly.

His eyes became fierce as he met her cool gaze. "Its. Fine."

She held up her hands in surrender. "When can we leave?"

"When do we have to?"

"As soon as possible."

Seth nodded. "I'll gather a team."

Theresa nodded. "Bring a mage. If something should happen, I want to make sure that I can do what I can for you."

Seth arched a brow. "What do you mean?"

She sighed. "If someone should become…infected, I know how to cure it. But I need a mage."

Seth paused for a moment. "Do all Wardens know how to cure it?"

"Mine do. Why?"

The men exchanged a look. "Does Anders?"

She lowered a brow. "He should. Why?"

Varric cleared his throat. "The last time we went down there, one of our companions became inflicted with the taint."

Theresa started to connect the dots. "And Anders didn't help you."

"he wasn't there." Seth admitted. Merrill rubbed his back comforting him.

Theresa popped her neck. "He knew that a group was going into the deep roads, and he didn't go with you?"

Varric tried to cover for his friend. "he said that's why he left the Wardens."

Her anger was apparent as she stared past the group at the wall. "I don't fucking care. He's a warden no matter what. A normal, responsible person would have said, 'hey as a warden, its my job to protect people from darkspawn. Please, let me assist you on your trip.' I can't believe that i…" She rubbed her temples. Hopping that all this will simply go away and she'll wake up and see that it was a horrible, annoying dream.

Seth gave a mocking smile. "I'll assemble a team and we'll leave first thing in the morning."

XxXxXxXx

"You're did that on purpose didn't you?" Theresa hissed at Seth.

He raised a curious brow at the commander. "What did I do? I'm just walking here, leading the way through the deep roads as you asked. Letting you kill all the dark spawn to your hears content."

"I mean that one." Theresa jutted her thumb behind her at the male elf.

"Fenris?"

"The other one."

"You've been glowering for days, blondie. If you keep it up, your face will get stuck like that." Varric said.

"My face is the least of my worries." Anders snapped, his eyes never the back of Theresa's head.

"That's because you don't have to look at it." Varric replied quickly. He looked up at his friend. "if you could see it from his angle, Blondie, it'd be at least a close second on your priority list."

Seth shrugged. "You said we should bring a mage. I figured, what's one more warden?"

Fenris spoke up on the conversation happening behind the leaders. "Perhaps if he would relax and stop looking like a cat about to take a bath just because his former employer is here…"

Anders shot the elf a look that would set him ablaze. "We'll see what you look like when your 'former employer' arrives, hmm?"

"HE was a SLAVER. SHE offered you a life where you didn't have to worry about templars. Or annoy the rest of Kirckwall. I can hardly see the servitude."

"And Denarious just wanted someone to fill his tea kettle for him. Where's the slavery in that?"

Fenris smirked. "Mind your manners or I'm going to have to tell your mommy that you're being mean."

Anders huffed. "I hate you."

"You should be careful with that. I hear hate is another demon. We wouldn't want to make you susceptical to demons. Again."

The red headed female spoke then. "Will both of you shut it."

The men looked away from one another and continued to walk in silence. Theresa enjoyed it for as long as it lasted. The pressure was building in the back of her skull. No doubt they would know that she was here now. She drew her daggers.

"What's up?" Seth asked.

"Ten hurlocks around the corner, arm yourselves." The others gave confused looks as they did so. "varric, pick off the stragglers." He nodded as she ran into the room. Stabbing, slashing, and felling three before the others arrived. The whirlwind of battle and blood rushed through her body as she decapitated another dark spawn. An arrow whistled past her head. Theresa turned to see it land square in the forehead in a Hurlock. Its eyes rolled back as it fell to the ground. She turned and watched Nathaniel put his bow away. He arched a brow at her.

"If I knew you wanted to come, I would have waited."

She sheathed her weapons and walked up to him. "You disobeyed my orders. We were not supposed to get involved in this. This is not our problem."

Seth lowered his brows. "What's going on?"

Nathaniel looked the five people that accompanied his commander. "You're the champion, aren't you?"

Seth smirked at Theresa. "How is it all your wardens know who I am but you don't?"

She shot him an annoyed look then back at Nathaniel. "I told you not to get involved."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes and stopped as he saw the mage. "Anders?"

The mage waved slightly. "Hi." He said with a smile.

Nathaniel looked at his old friend with a curious look. "I thought you died?"

"If you could tell the other wardens that, I'd appreciate it."

Nathaniel gave confused looks between the two wardens.

Theresa sighed. "Yea, I'm pissed too. What are you doing here?"

Seth crossed his arms. "I'm curious as well. What ARE you doing here?"

Nathaniel ignored his commander and spoke to Seth. "We were told that you traveled deeper into the deep roads than anyone believed possible. The first warden himself ordered this investigation. I was offered a generous share of the salvage plus extra coin to discourage any…curiosity." He looked at his commander. "Though it would appear that it was unnecessary." Theresa arched a brow in annoyance.

Seth looked around. "Looks like you met heavy resistance."

Nathaniel looked at the same massacre. "Our allies assured us that these tunnels would still be mostly clear. But it would appear that they were wrong." Nathaniel took a cleansing breath.

Seth shifted his weight. "These allies, they seem to know a great deal about dark spawn. Are they dwarves?"

Nathaniel gave a cautious look at Theresa who had set her eyes to revel nothing. Nathaniel pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let's just say we live in strange times."

"What are you investigating?"

Theresa cut her hand across the air. "that's enough." Her voice was stern and demanded that he stop asking questions. Anders was a good boy and took a step back, cueing Seth that he should do the same.

Theresa looked Nathaniel over. He met her gaze. She rubbed her forehead and sighed. "She's not here." Theresa said softly. "She should've died a long time ago. Even if she is alive," Theresa paused and tried to find the words. Nathaniel crossed his arms and arched a brow, waiting for her to finish quickly. "You won't like what she's become. They would have forced her to-"

"Are you done?"

Theresa looked up. He was stoic, as usual. He used the 'coin' as a cover up to look for her, Theresa knew it. Velanna went missing two years ago, there is no way that she is alive. And yet… then again, she also lived in a memory. Of course, hers was standing behind her. She sighed again and nodded. "I'll tell Dehila the good news; that you're alive. For now." Theresa turned and was stopped by his words.

"Wait." She turned. "When we were attacked, I was separated from the expedition. Some of them may yet live."

"Not our problem." Theresa said. "Let's go."

Nathaniel took her arm forcibly. "We have to go deeper and save them."

Theresa ripped her arm from his grip. "I don't have to do anything except get out of these damn roads with you. Conscious or not."

Nathaniel rebelled and crossed his arms. "Are you going to let wardens die?"

"They die every day. Why should I care about some marchers when I have an entire country of wardens to worry about?"

"Because" Seth said, "You're here now. We have survivors to save." He walked toward the area deeper into the roads.

Theresa looked at Nathaniel with contempt. "We have survivors to save." She mocked and walked past the archer, running her shoulder into his as she past. "Varric, when I order, I want a hail of arrow. Got it?" The dwarf gave an 'uhh' as she walked down the stairs. Theresa touched Seth's shoulder to stop him from running into a trap. She walked past a door way. She gave a loud whistle and waited.

Without warning, she ran back into the area with the others, sprinting. "Varric, now."

Varric had just enough time to register the eight hurlocks that followed her into the room. The hail of arrows pinned them so they couldn't move. The other five dispatched the hurlocks. Theresa climbed on a high rock.

"Nathaniel, eyes."

The archer nodded and notched an arrow and waited at the door. Seth felt the ground shake. Theresa readied herself on the rock. An ogre rounded the corner and went for Seth, rising its massive hand to swat him. Nathaniel whistled and caught its attention. It stupidly looked at him only to have an eye be plucked out. Theresa jumped into the air, only to be disappointed. The ogre caught her in midflight in its fist. "This is not what I had planned." Theresa said to herself. The ogre brought her closer to its face to inspect her. She got a good look at the dumb black eye. The monster took a deep breath and roared at her. Theresa took the opportunity to use her family's long sword and shoved it in as far as it could go into the roof of the monsters mouth.

It released her instantly. Theresa dropped ten feet and landed on her ass. The monster fell to its knees, preparing to fall on the commander. She squirmed and ran out of the path of the falling corpse. The horned head hit the ground and the ogre released a final 'ugh' as it came to a stop. Theresa sheathed her weapons. She gave a mocking laugh. "haha, fuck you." She pointed at it.

It moved to attack her and she ran behind a wall and hid. The wall had an odd grey mold. It was fur. Theresa slowly looked up. Anders had an unamused expression. "No, stay hidden." He said dead pan. "I hear its veracious nature is only matched by its incredible ability to play dead." Theresa cleared her throat and stepped out from behind the mage.

Nathaniel arched a brow. "my hero."

She gave a quick "Shut up" before the embarrassed blush appeared on her cheeks and swiftly walked past Hawke, who had the audacity to snicker.

The pressure of the impending dark spawn occupied Theresa's thoughts. So many so close. Is it too late to go home now? She wasn't listening to the conversation between them and the dwarf.

"Corridors lined with explosives AND dark spawn galore? It's not even my birthday." Hawke said with a smile.

Theresa smiled at his light heartedness of the situation. At least he'll die with a smile. "How many explosives are there?"

"Two down this hall, commander."

She nodded. Theresa popped her neck and walked ahead. Nathaniel informed the dwarf that the path was clear behind him. He left with a quick pace. Nathaniel joined his commander side. "The bridge is out. A cluster is behind this wall, but…" The two exchanged worried looks. Theresa looked behind them and saw the group that risked their lives coming down here. Their chances were about get slimmer. "Get down." She said. They all gave her a worried look as she flipped the lever. A huge explosion sounded. A bit of the wall fell and created a bridge for the group.

A small rank of hurlocks came out of the hole now in the wall came out and started to attack them. Theresa shrouded and threw a decoy further back to distract the hurlocks. The roar of another ogre caught the attention of everyone. Varric continued to attack the stragglers. Theresa let Hawkes' group attack the Ogre while she took the hurlocks.

Theresa turned. A Hurlock raised its sword at Anders. She drew a throwing blade at it, missing its mark, as she ran toward him. Anders turned in time to dodge the attack. Theresa was upon it, slicing her blade into the soft tissues under the arm. It used its other arm, lodging its blade into her shoulder. Theresa gasped at the pain but thrust her other dagger into its face. It released its blade and fell. Theresa pulled out the sword and staggered.

The ogre fell and Anders caught Theresa before she hit the ground. She reached into her side pouch and got a health poultice and downed it quickly. Anders hands turned blue with healing and Theresa closed her eyes. It's been awhile since she's traveled with a healer. Their powers were meant to relax and numb and Anders was one of the best. Theresa barely opened her eyes and watched Anders. He was concentrating on the wound. She had forgotten how good he was. How dedicated he was.

Her flesh knitted together again and he looked at her. Some of her hair had fallen out of its bun and was framing her face on one side. Her fierce eyes were soft. He felt his heart skip at the memories that filled his mind's eyes.

Her hand wrapped around the hairs on the back of his neck without thought. It was something she did a long time ago when they laid together. When he looked at her like that. Theresa blinked and stood quickly. Offering him a hand up to be polite, he dismissed it. She rotated her shoulder and was the first down the stair case.

Nathaniel put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you well enough to-"

"I'm fine." She said automatically. "I'm used to worse." Theresa hit the landing and looked around. Four Grey Wardens were laying there. Not moving. The dark spawn were growing closer.

Nathaniel drew closer to the bodies. He knelt in front of one. "I'm afraid we've come all this way for nothing." In synchronization, Theresa and Nathaniel both looked at the hall ahead. Dark spawn were running toward them. Nathaniel stood quickly and drew his bow. "My fallen comrades will be avenged. The dark spawn approach." Theresa rummaged through his pockets to his protests.

"Borrowing this." She held up a small terracotta pot with a fuse. "Anders." Appeared at her side. "how good can you throw?"

He arched a confused brow. "Uhh"

Theresa looked at the tunnel again. "When I tell you to, light the fuse." He nodded. Six seconds, that's all she had. The hurlocks came out. "Varric, hail please."

"busy," the dwarf said behind her. Theresa turned and saw a small group behind them, attacking from the way they just came.

"Hawke, get those." He nodded and ran ahead to attack. She turned back forward. An ogre appeared at the top of the stairs. "Anders, inferno." Anders called forth the magic while she stealthed. The ogre ran down the stairs and looked like it was about to rampage the group. She pushed Nathaniel out of the way and jumped. It came to a halt and gave a taunt. Theresa used the inferno fire to light the fuse. She ran to it and threw the grenade into its mouth.

She turned and drew her blades, smiling as she heard the explosion of the ogre's inners. The body fell to the ground. Nathaniel took out the dark spawn from the hall. She turned to help Hawke and saw some blue glowing thing jumping in the air, giving a killing blow to a Hurlock.

Another horde came from the adjacent room. Theresa ran ahead into it. She stabbed, sliced, killed every Hurlock that she could. Four bodies hit the ground when Hawke and Aveline were at her side. The elf was killing other hurlocks back at the stairs and was assisted by Varric and Nathaniel. They quickly decimated the horde when the ground shook with another ogre. Theresa knew the two were fine as she took the opportunity to get a better advantage. Hawke and Aveline got its attention and used a series of shield bashes to keep it occupied. Theresa climbed up the dwarven statue and jumped on the shoulders of the ogre from behind. It lifted its hands to get her.

With as much force as she could muster, she thrust her dragon bone dagger into its spine. She gave a final jerk to ensure death. There was a sickening sound of something breaking. Theresa looked at the pommel of her dagger and dropped her jaw. Her dagger broke. She wanted to twitch her eye but was forced off the ogre as it fell to the ground. She rolled forward and seemed fine. Her and Nathaniel looked around themselves.

Four more appeared at the top of the stairs. "Anders, if you don't mind." He cast a blizzard and froze the four. The elf ran up the stairs and pummeled them to a series of bloody ice cubes. Theresa turned in time to see the shadow of another ogre. "Why is there always an ogre?" She screamed to herself. She drew her family's sword and ran ahead, killing every Hurlock that dared to kill her or her men. She saw Hawke go after a Hurlock. "Hawke, Ogre." She jumped impossibly far and killed the Hurlock that he was working on. She went around and killed all the other little dark spawn.

Theresa killed the final Hurlock and turned to see the ogre fall upon its back. There was a moment when everyone looked around for the next opponent.

It was Nathaniel who assured them that the battle was over. "I've never felt the deep roads this calm before." He said looking at the area. "We've won." Theresa walked past him to the second ogre. Everyone sheathed their weapons. "The route to the surface should be safe now. Because of you, I shall see my sister and nephew again."

"GIVE IT BACK YOU SON OF A BITCH." They all gave an awkward look at Theresa who was stomping in the face of the ogre.

Nathaniel scratched his head. "stay down here long enough, you go mad."

"FUCK YEA I'M MAD." She screamed.

"It's noticeable." Nathaniel said under his breath, which earned a smirk and an approving nod from Anders.

"IT BROKE MY FUCKING DAGGER." She stomped it face again. "GIVE IT BACK."

Aveline raised a brow. "Its just a dagger."

Theresa stopped mid stomp and looked at the woman. "Just a…" she stormed over to the woman. "It was dragon bone reinforced with silverite. From Antiva."

Seth gave a head shake and a sniff. "Look, I'm sure that one of the merchants in Hightown has a dagger from Antiva made from dragon bone."

Theresa pouted. "The bone came from the last dragon that the Pentagusts slayed. I stole it from a crow. You can't buy memories like that."

Nathaniel patted her head and said dead pan, "there there."

She swatted his hand away and Nathaniel smirked. "Fuck you. You get to keep your grandfathers bow, I loose everything that's mine." She pouted again and crossed her arms with more vigor.

Nathaniel waited a moment. Samuel often did the same thing, wanting attention. He did the same thing he does to Samuel. "Anyways," Nathaniel turned back to Seth, "thank you. I don't have much to offer, but I do have this." He removed the long sword that hung at his hip and passed it to Seth. "Please, take it with my blessing. I may not have been able to answer all of your questions, but you may have them in the fullness of time."

Theresa scoffed with a smirk. "I doubt it." The others looked at her. "What, it's true."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. Like a child. He works for a child. "Again, thank you." He grabbed Theresa by the arm and spun her toward the exit. "Come on Commander." He chided her.

She forcibly took her arm away. "Yea yea, get your shit."

Nathaniel smirked and lead the way into an adjoining hall. Seth shook his head at the commander. She was the leader of the most fierce army in Ferleden? He had to laugh but couldn't. She didn't have a problem taking out Ogres, in fact three fell because of her in less than ten minutes. He looked at Anders who looked like he was finally able to relax. "So, she seems nice." Seth said with a smile.

Anders huffed. "Are you kidding? Her idea of tact is to stab someone in the face." Anders paused and registered Seth smile as an over exaggeration. "Seriously, that's how she killed the mother, she stabbed her three times in the face. With a dagger. Then left it there. With a smile."

Fenris 'ahh' dreamily. "An indiscrimate killer. Sounds like your kind of woman."

"Or yours" the mage snapped, "with your magical fisting thing."

Fenris arched a brow. "You think she'd enjoy it?"

Blue fire started to lick up Ander's arms as he stared at the elf. Varric and Aveline took a safe step back.

"Varric" Theresa called from inside the room. "I need to borrow you."

Thankful to get away from the argument, he jogged to the psychotic woman. "Young miss, I don't mean to be rude but you seem like a high maintance kind of woman."

The rest of the group watched as he entered the room. With a skeptical look. Aveline and Fenris began a friendly conversation when something loud and mechanical came from the other room. "Andrate's dimpled asscheek!" Varric exclaimed.

Hawke and Aveline ran into the room and stopped. Fernis and Anders were behind them, looking into the room. The walls were lined in lava and water poured from the walls into pools below. There was a huge dwarven statue in the middle of the room, holding a very large, very real battle axe.

"What is this place?" Hawke whispered as he followed Varric into the room.

"This," Theresa said, looking quite proud of herself, "Is an ancient dwarven bath house." Everyone except Nathaniel gave her look like she grew a second head. "What? Like they don't bathe?"

The art and artucture distracted Seth. "So, why did you need Varric?"

"His blood." Anders gave a disapproving look. "Okay, let me rephrase that. A long time ago, dwarves allowed only mages into the deep roads because they were…curious about mages. So, I needed someone who was a dwarf to start the machine. Hence, Varric."

"Welcome." He said, looking at the room.

"So," Theresa clapped her hands and looked at the group, "Who wants to go first?" She smiled at them. None moved. Theresa shrugged and stated to undo the buckles at her sides. Nathaniel cleared his throat. They locked eyes and she understood what he was saying. She looked away shamefully. She sighed. "You're right." Theresa walked out. "how about you big, strong men go first, and me and Alvine will be on watch." She grabbed a pack and headed out the door.

Aveline touched Seth's shoulder. "We don't have time for this, Hawke."

He shrugged off her hand and smirked. "what's one bath. Besides, Fenris has blood in his hair and if he doesn't wash it out, it'll stain."

Fenris put his hands in his hair. "Is there really?"

Anders rolled his eyes. "and they say I'm finiky."

"well, if you were ever actually in the fight…"

"Whose ass do I have to keep healing?"

"I don't need nor want your…healing."

Nathaniel was already half nude by the time Anders rolled his eyes and Seth and Varric were walking to a pool of water. Seth dipped his foot into the water and Varric laughed.

"I didn't see you as a tester, Hawke. You seem more like the cannon ball type."

All of the men were dressed down to their nudity and sitting in the large pool. Only Fenris and Anders were rude enough to comment on each others bodies.

"I knew you were a malificar."

Anders looked down at his fore arms. Rylock had burned the mark of the malificar into his arms after she kidnapped him. "Yea." He said tired. "You got me. What about you? Is it tattoos or burns?"

Fenris arched a brow. "What do you mean?"

"Are they burns or are they tattoos." Fenris tiled his head in confusion. "You keep bitching that the lerium was burned into your skin, but you refer them as tattoos. Which is it?"

"Its hard to say." The elf said dead pan. "I don't have my memories."

"Speaking of tattoos," Nathaniel said putting his hair back into the duel braids. He gave a knowing smirk at Anders, "did you ever get anymore?"

Seth arched a brow. "More?"

Anders gave a warning look at the rouge.

Varric smiled. "I am intrigued. Tell us young Howe, what are you talking about?"

Nathaniel gave a curious look at the dwarf. "You don't know?" Everyone looked at Nathaniel for answers while he smirked at the mage. Anders pointed a finger at him in warning. "I can remember it like it was yesterday." He said dreamily. "Anders ran around the keep with his top off screaming at anyone who would listen 'look at my tattoo, look at my new tattoo' with Zevran closely behind him, telling everyone that it was a "gryphon."

"What's with the quotations?" varric asked.

"It wasn't until Justice saw it and demanded that Zevran stopped lying. Hmm. Good times. Well," Nathaniel stood, "It's been fun, but I'm sure the women would like their time as well." He exited the tub and dried himself off.

Varric leaned into his friend. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Anders snapped. He crossed his arms, making sure that his hair was covering it.

"Where is it?"

"You're not going to see it." He snapped at Varric. He gave a death look into the water in front of him.

Seth looked behind the mage and saw Nathaniel tap the base of his neck. HE shared a look with Varric and both smirked. It was Fenris however that pushed him forward into the water, damn near drowing him, and moved his hair.

Theresa was outside the door, reading an encrypted journal. It held the information on the legend that they were looking for.

"It's a dancing muffin okay!" Anders shouted. The other men started to laugh.

Aveline huffed. "They sound like their having fun." Theresa smiled. "What are you reading anyways?"

"Grey Warden stuff." Theresa responded without looking up. The ferocious woman grunted at the lack of an answer. "As the captain of the guard, do you often have secrets that you have to keep from the people? For example, slavers in the area, undead in the graveyard, things like that?" Theresa looked up to see the perplexed look. "Well, that's my job. To keep the secrets so that the public doesn't freak out."

"Or see that you're willing to sacrifice the lives of you're men."

Theresa's anger flared but kept it in control. "They're not my men."

"They're in your order."

"You think I scarified them? I made them give up their lives for an order that was willing to kill them?" Aveline gave a blank stare. "Oghren threw everything he had at into this investigation. I told him that this was a bad idea, but he wouldn't listen. He is so consumed with ending this chaos as quickly as possible to save Orzzomar that he's sacrificing everything." Theresa readjusted herself. "Those mens deaths are tragic and I feel each as a loss of my own, but I will not be held responsible for that dwarfs actions." She went back to the journal.

A silent moment passed between the two women. "What are you investigating?"

"Legends. Myths. Idle fantasies from a fallen empire."

"You're not going to tell me are you?"

"They said you guardsmen were sharp."

Aveline put her hand on the pummel of her long sword. "If it affects Kirckwall, it's my business to know what you're doing down here."

"King Alistair said that to me once. I told him it was none of his concern and to drop it." Theresa looked up and smiled politely.

"Why are you hiding it?"

"It hides itself."

Aveline raised a brow. "What are you looking for?"

Theresa inspected the warrior, Head strong, protective. She rubbed her chin. "Who taught you how to fight?" Aveline blinked a few times. "It just seems…different. Defiantly not Ferelden military. Who was it?"

"Don't change the subject."

"You're not going to get your answers, so may as well. Who taught you?"

"Cheverlir." Nathaniel exited the room with his bow on his back. His steel eyes on the warrior woman.

"Yes. My father was once, he taught me."

Theresa arched a brow at the archer. "How could you tell?"

He smirked at his commander. "For Highever being so close to Orlais-"

"How could you tell?" She said cooly.

Nathaniel met Avelines eyes. "Your right flank is weak. You favor your shield over your sword. Its indicative to the Orlisan idea that the shield represents the country and the sword the soldier." The warrior gave an amazed look at the archer. "You can take your bath now, if you'd like. The other men have moved to the steam section, you should have some privacy."

Aveline gave a worried look at Teresa. "Will you bathe as well?"

Theresa looked at her feet shamefully. "I'll go last." She didn't make eye contact with the woman as she entered the room

Nathaniel removed his bow and sat down next to Theresa. She looked sad as she stared at her feet. Nathaniel took the journal from her hands and started to read the encrypted words. Theresa didn't argue and let him go.

They sat in silence for a long time. Theresa leaned forward and played with her mothers amulet. A trait that Nathaniel noticed, she did when she was worried. She stared at the wall in front of them, not blinking.

"What is it?" He asked gruffly.

It snapped her out of whatever she was thinking. "Nothing."

He arched a brow. If she was scared of dark spawn, she would share it, but this…"It's Anders, isn't it?"

She scoffed. "No."

He shook his head at her as he went back to reading. "You've spent the last six years living in a memory. And you see that he's been alive, away from you, letting you die, slowly. And you don't feel…anything for him? His presence here doesn't upset you in the slightest?"

Her heart shriveled as she responded quickly, without emotion. "Nope. I was thinking that the Wardens here were idiots."

He sighed. "Fine. Hide. But how long will you push him away until he's gone for good?"

"soon, if I'm lucky."

Nathaniel slammed the book shut and looked at her. His piercing, brotherly eye made her look away. He knew everything about her. He's all she had left. Zevran was there but he had his own family to look after and she didn't want to interrupt. Nathaniel knew how much he meant to her, but he took the place as her big brother when Fergus disowned her. He was always there.

Nathaniel traced the design on her back. Theresa forcibly shoved his hand off and hit the wall behind them. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears that she refused to let fall.

"He made you look like an ass." Nathaniel said calmly. "I can understand if you're angered at hm."

"I don't give two shits about him or the fact that he's alive. Besides, why would I care about him when I have Jowan?"

Nathaniel's lip twitched. "You and I both know that he's just there to fill the void."

Theresa gave a mocking look of disbelief. "Is he really?"

"He may be your mage, but he is not your healer."

She stood quickly. "I'm going to take my bath, will you be fine without me?"

He nodded slowly as she went to undress. The men were behind the wall in the steam area and Aveline was sharpening her blade by their camp area. Still in plate. Theresa gave her a small smile as she took off her armor. Theresa took her soap and towel to the pool side.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw that Aveline was just starting to take off the pate, her back to Theresa. She quickly got out of her cottons and into the water. It was delightfully warmth. Theresa quickly bathed and ducked in to the water to get it across her hair. She resurfaced and pulled her hair back into its bun.

"Makers breath!" Aveline's things fell to the ground and Theresa looked over her shoulder to see the warrior wearing only a towel and her hands over her mouth. She saw. Theresa hid her shame with a smile.

Seth and Varric came around the corner with their weapons, smiling. "Don't worry we'll protect you…" their smiles fading. The men looked at her marred flesh. She had scars covering her entire back. Stitch wounds, burn marks, her once red dragon was lost in the countless battles. And below both shoulders blades were identical brands. A circle with three other three quarter circles on the edges. The symbol of the three moons, a symbol that the chantry used. The Heretic. She had two heretical brands. It was a torture that they did away with a long time ago. What did she do to deserve this?

Varric's breath was whooshed from his lungs. "Oh, commander."

"Commander." Nathaniel's voice was booming and demanded that she pay attention to him. He held a towel open for her to use. She turned and gave the viewers another show. With her modesty, she covered her chest with her hand, but her torso, arms and legs just as scarred as her back.

Seth, Varric, and Aveline watched as this woman took the stairs with an elegant grace as her body was…hideous. Her skin was…her scars were…how is she alive? Nathaniel wrapped her in a towel and indicated that she get dressed as quickly as possible and join him back on watch. She nodded and headed back to the camp site; her heart heavy, her eyes glassy.

Varric and Seth watched her with slack jaws as she took her time getting dressed. Not for show but out of depression.

"Please, don't say anything." Nathaniel asked the trio. "She's very self conscious about her condition."

"What happened to her?" Seth asked, his eyes not moving from Theresa.

Nathaniel paused and saw Anders hunched over in the steam area. Willing himself not to look at her. "This is what happens when your healer runs away and you refuse to get a new one." The mens gaze shifted to the mage hiding. "I suggest you return to your activities. Quickly."

The men walked back to the steam area, passing Theresa. She kept her back to them so that she may not see their judging looks. Seth and Varric sat down in the steam and didn't speak. Fenris watched the two usually over talkative friends. They looked depressed and stared at nothing.

Varric spoke first, if only above a whisper at the mage. "was she beautiful once?"

Anders raised a brow and thought they were talking about Aveline. But judging from Seth's mirrored expression, "What do you mean once?"

Fenris huffed. "You're love life is more pathetic than your actual life mage."

"Thanks." Anders said monotone. "I can see how living like a squatter in high town, trying to be something your not gives you room to look down on me."

"Says the abomination fighting for the rights of mages."

Anders leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. His mind filled with the memories he had with Theresa. Her smile, her laughter, the way she looked at him, the way her eye would twitch when she noticed him watching her but didn't say anything. He remembered until he felt the same pain that was there the night he left.

He began to wonder why he left. And the memories that were attached to it.

She entered her bed chambers looked more tired than usual. Anders put down the book he was reading and watched her tiredly undress and join him in her bed. She slipped under the covered and snuggled up to him, wrapping an arm around his middle. Anders smiled at her. His heart stilled and beat faster around her. His wanted nothing more than to look at her from a fair distance to see all of her but at the same time ravish her. "What is this?" He whispered.

She grunted. "Some cultures call it cuddeling. Now shh, pillows don't talk."

They've shared a bed since the kings wedding and he's been with her every night. He did as she asked and kept their love lives separate from their professional but, why did he feel the need to ask. He tiled her face to look at him. "What is our relationship?"

"Commander, warden. Male, female, lovers, bed warmers, take your pick." She yawned and nuzzled his shoulder again.

He stroked her hair. "Which do you want?"

The trepidation in his voice caught her attention. Theresa lifted her head and looked at him. "Which are you willing to offer?"

Anders traced her cheek with his thumb. "At the tower, love was just a game. It gave the templars too much power to know you had something to loose." Theresa watched him and waited patiently. "I don't... You've become important to me. If they take me back-"

Theresa sat up and held his face in her hands. Her eyes firm as well as her voice. "Look at me." He did so slowly, "As long as I breathe, they will not have you. You understand?"

He ran this thumb over her lower lip. She was so beautiful. He didn't know if it was gratitude or love but he pulled her forward to him.

That night, they made love with more tenderness and passion than ever before. And in the heat of her, in the sound of her breathless moans, he let the words slip from his lips. The words he had avoided for so long. She leaned forward and kissed him deeply as his climax passed. "I love you too."

He felt his heart swell at her confession. Those words that he prayed and feared, wished and worried made him smile and kiss her again.

When the fear set in, he asked to leave. It was for her. He didn't want to hurt her, but staying was…

"Anders" Seth pulled him out and Anders arched a brow at him. "Did you hear me? You're on third shift." Anders nodded and left the others to lay down for the night.

XxXxXxX

The end was near, thank the Maker above. Now if we can only get Anders to SHUT THE HELL UP it will be a beautiful day.

"The desire for freedom is an inherit right. All creatures deserve the rights of freedom and happiness in life. Fenris, you know of which I speak."

Fenris raised a hand to cover his face from the mage. "I disavow to know anything of which you speak, mage."

Anders sighed. "When you were a slave, didn't you desire freedom?"

"I do not need to you remind me of the life I disbanded. Alone. And without your constant pestering."

"But you did desire it?"

The elf growled. "You know nothing of the life I left. I suggest you shut your mouth before I remove your jaw."

Anders backed off slightly. "I will continue to speak for mage rights until the day I die."

"it will come sooner than you think if you do not desist."

"How can you be so hypocritical? You are for people ridding themselves of the chains of slavery, how can you be for the circle as well?"

Fenris popped his neck. "Have YOU been to the Imperium? Have you seen the societies welcoming embrace of blood magic? Have you seen the despair of citizens in fear to speak to magistairs for they will use them for their next sacrifice?" Fenris waited for the mage to be stupid enough to respond.

"Well, no"

"Then perhaps you should flee there and see for yourself what happens when mages are set free and left unchecked. The circle serves a purpose, you should let it."

"but"

Theresa popped her neck. "That's it! I've had enough!"

"I thought I heard your patience snap." Nathaniel mused.

Theresa looked at Seth, "I'm sorry but if you wont shut him up I will."

Seth looked at Anders sympathicly. "Well, I've failed in the last six, what can you do?"

Theresa turned to the mage, her eyes fierce as well as her voice. "Shut up, final warning." She turned back and started to walk again.

"You cant shut me up just because you say so." Theresa stopped dead in her tracks. Nathaniel shook his head at her, silently telling her that this isn't a fight she wanted to be a part of. "I will always be a voice for mages, even in my death."

Theresa turned to look at him. "Words are easy. What have you done that will actually make a difference?"

Anders saw the completion she was trying to do. Nathaniel behind her was waving his hands, telling Anders to back off. "I've freed fellow mages."

She arched a sarcastic brow. "How?"

"I've help them escape."

Nathaniel face palmed himself and sighed. He found a suitable rock and sat down. Pulling his pack off, he began to rummage through it, looking for something.

"Escape?" she echoed. Anders nodded. "You're in idiot."

Fenris threw his hands in the air. "thank you."

But she didn't stop. "You honestly think that proving the point of why they need to be locked up is going to help?" She gave him a moment to respond, finally listening to Nathaniel, he didn't. "That's what I thought. Since you're a huge fan of choice, I'm going to give you two. Shut the hell up and live, or say 'for the mages' again, and die."

He pursed his lips. "Are those my only options?" She nodded. "And if I refuse to abide?"

"I kill you anyways."

He looked her over for a moment. "I choose voice."

Theresa smirked. Nathaniel shook his head at the idiocy. She drew a dagger as she stepped toward the mage. "Here." She held it out to him, he didn't take it. "Grey Wardens can not have a political view, we can not speak out against oppressors, we can not do anything except die in these maker forsaken roads. Sorry Varric. So if you want to continue to speak as you are, I'm going to need what makes you a warden." Anders looked at the blade again. "About two gallons should suffice. Take it, Anders. Slit your throat."

Anger bubbled up to the surface. He saw the injustice that she was doing to him. She was imprisoning him. Justice started to take control. "I will not be silenced." His eyes started to glow in the darkness of the cave. "I will not allow you to continue the imprisonment of mages. We have the ability to free them and you stand idly by and allow it to happen. Neutrality is not an option."

"I don't have a choice, Anders, now calm yourself."

"You will not control me anymore, Commander." Justice's voice took his own. "I will no longer succumb to anyone. I am a free man."

"I MADE YOU FREE.I gave you freedom. I gave you hope. I gave you a home. You did nothing. It was all me, Anders. How can you help others when you can't even help yourself. You were caught seven times. Uldred or Jowain would be a better advocates for mage rights than you. Total liberation except for blood mages? You're the real hypocrite, here. So shut up and-" She looked back down the way they came. Anders blue flames licked up his arms and his eyes glowed with Vengeance. "Shit." Nathaniel stood and passed her a vial and took one for himself. She broke it against her dagger. Theresa looked over her shoulder at Hawke, "Hide." Nathaniel did the same and they both cut their daggers across their skin.

Back to back, they took a mediating pose and waited. Hawke motioned for the others to do as she asked, but if they weren't going to listen to her, no way they were going to listen to him. Hawke watched as their eyes began to smoke as well as their blades. Theresa's eyes opened, a blue fire could be seen as she watched the path ahead of them. The blue smoke curled around her face and daggers.

In those small, few moments, Seth saw what the people of Ferelden saw, a fierce warrior that could kill anything and demanded that people follow her or die. He felt confidence at her side and knew that at against her, he wouldn't stand a chance.

Theresa blinked and dropped her dagger. Her hands went to her eyes and hopped from one foot to the other. "Fuck, it burns it burns. I hate doing that." She rubbed her eyes again. Looking at the ceiling, she blinked a few times. Theresa took a deep breath and looked at Seth. "Are my eyes red?"

He arched a brow. Are glowing eyes a warden thing? "They're blue." He said dumbly.

Theresa rolled her eyes. "I know, but are the whites red?"

"…no…"

Nathaniel sighed. "That should buy us some time." He turned and looked at Theresa. She just sheathed her daggers when Nathaniel pulled on her ear. "Control your temper."

She pulled on his arm. "I got it. But-"

"If you so much as say 'he started it' I will slap you."

Theresa was silent until he released her ear. "But he did."

Nathaniel pinched the bridge of his nose. "You want to act like a child, fine." He looked at Anders. "Both of you say something nice."

Seth had to take a step back. How did this fierce group of warriors become a day care center?

Anders crossed his arms and looked away as did Theresa. "Now." Nathaniel ordered.

Theresa pursed her lips and looked Anders over. "Nice boots."

"Nice scars."

Theresa pointed a finger at him. "I will fucking murder you."

Nathaniel threw his hands up. "Fuck it, you die here, I'm leaving." He shimmied his way past the group of onlookers and headed out of the roads in silence with the rest of the group behind him.

Everyone followed behind the Howe except for Fenris who had a troll of a smile at Anders.

"Don't." He warned.

Fenris smiled. "So about that oppression again."

"So help me i'll-"

"What? Run to the end of your chain and bark?"

Theresa looked over her shoulder and saw that the two men were glowing blue. "Hey, Glow worm, chuckles, lets go." Varric gave a snicker at the nick names and made a note to remember them.

"So umm," Hawke made his way by Theresa, "glowing eyes, huh?"

She smiled at him. "Yea. It's this thing we do."

Seth gave a small laugh. "And I thought it was just Anders being Anders."

"It's a technique that wardens use when we're out numbered." Seth arched an interested brow and smirked. "Dark spawn find people when their afraid or angered. But oddly, they fear confidence." Theresa smiled. It was actually the arch demon blood in their veins that makes them run. Think of your mother, angered and looking for you, what will you do? Yea, the dark spawn do that too.

"So confidence?"

"Yea. Has Anders had much communication with the wardens here?"

Seth thought about it. When they first met he said that he was hiding from them. "I don't think so."

"Hmm."Theresa lowered her brow. "Odd that he learned that on his own. Then again, he always was a bright lad."

Seth gave her a confused look. She really didn't know that he was possessed. "So, what were you looking for down here again?"

"Unicorns."

Seth smirked. "You lie."

"No no, they say that their horns are so bright, that it can blind dark spawn and kill them instantly. Oh, and their tears can heal any wound. Oh oh, and their blood can make you immortal."

"Or"

"Maditors." Seth shook his head. "Peguses?" Seth rolled his eyes. "chymeria?" he gave her a forceful look. "Okay okay. You twisted my arm." She looked around, making sure no one was listening. However, the mocking way she did it made Seth want to hit her in the arm for wasting his time. "Before Dumat passed into the fade, he gave man a map of his brothers kingdoms. 'with this' he said, 'you can find my brothers and waken them into a dawn of a new era. Magic will reign supreme and the Maker will fear us. Muhahahaha.' During the first blight, we believed that the map was lost." Her eyes wide in fantasy of her own story. "then one day, brave and bold wardens found it once more in the belly of another beast. Quickly, so quickly, they brought it to the first warden. He looked at it and ordered that we go in search for the last to old gods and kill them while they sleep." Her voice and hand gestures would rival Varric on a bad day. "And that's what we're doing here." She gave a huge grin and looked up at seth who had a skeptical brow raised.

Seth sighed. "I liked the idea of unicorns better."

"Me too. Sounds less depressing. Gives hope."

Seth sighed at her. "Fine, keep your secretes."

Theresa smiled. "Kay."

XxXxXxXx

The other two wardens were keeping to themselves, having hushed conversations by their own fire off from the others. Close enough to be seen but far enough to where no one could hear them. Seth found it most peculiar. If this is how wardens say thank you, he didn't want to know what they did when they were angered.

Anders and Varric, actually being able to stand each other, was on first watch. Anders watched is former comrades and felt a sense of loneliness tug at his heart. Because of his out spoken ways, no one here likes him. Except Varric and if he keeps silent, Seth. Theresa had her knees tucked up to her chest and looked annoyed like she was getting scolded by Nathaniel. Anders smiled at the memories of those two. They were always at each others throats, but held a silent respect for the other. He guessed it became more verbal as the years progressed.

Theresa groaned and Nathaniel arched a brow at her. She went through her pack and stood, walking toward his campfire. Varric noticed her movements and left Anders alone by the fire. He wanted to yell at the dwarf for ditching him but was soon feeling uncomfortable at her impending approach.

She reached him and held a small, white box out to him. "Peace offering."

Anders looked at the small, wooden box in her hands, skepticism writing all over his face. "Oh no, a Ferelden bearing gifts."

"Just take the damn thing, will ya?"

He raised a brow and gently took it from her. Watching her closely, he opened the lid. "Broken glass." He said, looking at the different colors of the glass in a box. "I'm not sure what to say. It loses something when you tell your victim how you're going to kill them."

Theresa rolled her eyes and sat down next to him. "It's spun honey called stained glass because of the coloring." He still looked suspicious. "It's candy." Fear not abating. She reached over and took a small piece and put in her mouth. "See, not poisonous."

"Or, you could be used to it by now."

She covered her eyes with a hand and took a few cleansing breaths. "Anyways," She said calmly, removing her hand from her face and into her lap. "I just wanted to say that I was sorry for…over reacting in the deep roads. I know I'm not supposed to loose my temper down there but" she released a breath and pursed her lips at herself. "I could give you a million and a half excuses: I hate the deep roads, the pressure was building, Nathaniel pissed me off. But I knew better. I know what happens if we loose control, and yet, I let what you said get to me. I'm sorry for endangering you, your friends, everything." She took a deep breath and Anders had the feeling that she was saying it to more than just him. "I'm sorry." She hid her face again only for a moment and looked at the fire. "Nathaniel was just telling me that I should stop being so shocked each time a Warden leaves the nest and wants to do something else beside die at the hands of some monster." She firmed her lower lip blinked quickly. His heart squeezed at her distress. But he couldn't help her. Comforting her now would show that he's still interested and she'll take him back and then he'll hurt her again. She was already hurting, why do it again.

"Of all my wardens, only two have ever asked me to leave. And I let them go willingly. Hell, I gave them coin to start a new life. All the others slink out under the cover of night." She shook her head. Her jaw clinched a few times as she staried into the fire, hoping it would give her the answers. Voice was soft and close to tears as she let herself ask "Am I such a horrible leader?"

Anders opened his mouth to say that she inspires confidence, bravery, courage, vigilance, that he only left to save her, but the little voice in his head screamed at him that it would be kinder to not set her up for pain, that he owes her that much.

She blinked away the tears. "Sorry, I'm usually not this emotional. Forgive me." She took a deep breath and released it with a smile. "Anyways, I'm sorry for snapping at you in the deep roads." She gave a fake smile and moved to stand.

"Why do you have candy?"

Theresa arched a brow at him. In hind sight, it does kind of seem like a random question. "I bought a box for all my little princes." It was his turn to give confused look. "Best friends sons. That one was supposed to go to Prince Meric, Alistair's son."

Anders smiled at her. "Does Fergus have kids?"

She gave a sad smile. "Yea, two girls and a boy."

"What did you get them?"

She looked away quickly only to look back at him with a plastered smile. "Where did you get your boots? I love them. It totally goes with this renegade look."

Anders was confused at her sudden change of topic. "A Nevarrian merchant in Lowtown."

She shrugged and stood. "Anyways, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier today. Good night Anders."

She turned and left him alone on a log with confusion all over his face. Varric returned and playfully nudged him with his elbow asking for details. Anders told him what she came to say and shared his candy. He quickly spit a piece out, ugh, mint honey.