Authors Notes: Just a small chapter building up the next chapter.

Letters and Friends

Loghain woke up after the servant had lit the fire in his room, he stretched, his mind falling to Aurelia. It hurt to know she tried to kill herself, Bryce had a lot to answer for.

He threw off the covers, swinging his legs off the bed, something caught his eye by the door, he got up to pick up the slither of paper. He unfolded it, his eyes widening realising who the sender was.

My dear love,

Knowing that you woke this morning blissfully unaware of my absence, fills me with great pain, but this is for the best. I cannot live as another man's wife, my father wants me to further his political gains, I will not be a pawn in the games of men. I certainly will not be a common whore to a man I cannot stand.

Being away from you sets an ache in my heart, an ache that I may spend the rest of my life with, burdening me. I love you Loghain with all my heart, only you I allowed in my heart, knowing you did the same with me, gave me hope of a future as your wife. That future looks increasing unlikely.

I would have been happy as your wife, I felt safe and loved greatly in your presence, the warmth I feel with the memories of time together will get me through our separation, however long that might be, right now, I can not give you the answer. You are a man capable of great love and kindness, you have a beauty in your soul, one of the reasons that I love you so much.

I hope one day you can forgive me, I do not walk away from you easily, it is the most painful things I have done. When it is safe for me, I will send word to you where I am, I hope you will still love me enough to come. If you chose not to come for me, I will understand, although it will hurt me greatly. Understand my love, there will be no other men, you are the only man I will ever allow in my heart and my bed.

I will leave Ferelden, I am too well-known to stay. I plan to buy a house with what money I have taken with me, maybe buy a Mabari hound, I will name her Adalla for you and treat her as fondly as you did with your Mabari.

Forgive me for the pain I have placed in your heart, but our separation will not be permanent, oh maker I prey it will not be. I love you more than I could ever say, my heart is filled with memories of the times we have shared, I will hope and prey to the maker every night that we will make more memories as man and wife and as parents.

Have patience my love, we will hold each other again.

Yours forever and more,

Aurelia.

Loghain slid down the wall, clutching the letter in his hands, his beloved Aurelia was gone and he didn't know when he would see her again, it was too much and he didn't have the strength to fight the tears. He choked out a sob, holding the letter to his chest, he could only hope he would see his beloved Aurelia again, until then, he would wait for her to contact him.

Eleanor woke up, anger still burning in her soul, Bryce had gone too far with Aurelia. Bryce came into the room, Eleanor scowled at him, "Are you going to apologise Aurelia?"

"Eleanor keep out of it," Bryce warned.

"No I will not, you slapped our baby around the face because she defied you, well darling, get used to it, Aurelia is strong spirit, from now on, she picks her own husband and you will have to like it, understood?"

"I'm the one who choose Eleanor, she is marrying Arl Howe whether she wants too or not, she agreed."

Eleanor got out of bed, noticing a letter by the door, she walked over to it, she clutched her heart, her baby poured her heart out to her.

My beloved Mother,

Once you have read this, I will be gone, leaving Ferelden for good. I will not be a pawn in Father's games, I am not a whore for him to pass around to gain political connections.

I must confess to you that Loghain and I have fallen in love and have spent time together and I have lain with him several times, leaving him behind breaks my heart, but you and Father have left me with little choice. Once it is safe for me, I will send for Loghain, but I shall never return. I will make a new life and hope Loghain will want to be with me.

Forget me Mother, I am no longer your daughter, I am a stranger to you, I no longer share the Cousland name, I make no claim to the titles or fortune of the Cousland family, from now on, the only child you have is the only child you wanted.

I hope that man you married can live with himself, he is vile and when he dies I will cheer.

I love you Mother, but you never loved me, I'm sorry I wasn't the Daughter you wanted me to be.

Aurelia.

Eleanor cried out dropping the letter, "My baby," She uttered.

"What is it Eleanor?" Bryce asked.

Eleanor snapped her around to look at Bryce, "You did this, you did this, you drove my baby away," Eleanor screamed in anger.

"Did what?" Bryce asked noting the despair in his wife's face.

"Our baby girl has left Ferelden for good, read that," Eleanor slapped the letter into his chest, walking away from him disgusted.

Bryce read the letter, "Loghain defiled our Daughter?" Bryce said shaking with anger.

Eleanor stormed towards her husband, her finger-pointing accusingly at him, "He made our baby happy, he was the one thing she had."

Bryce stormed out of the room, walking towards Loghain's room, he burst in, "You defiled my Daughter?" He roared.

Loghain saw red and rushed towards the man, grabbing his neck and slamming him against the wall, "You drove away Aurelia, she's out there alone because of you."

"You drove her away," Bryce accused him, slightly choking.

"You drove her away, you used her for your own political gains, you slapped her around the face."

"I didn't mean too, I just lost it," Bryce said fearfully.

"I caught her trying to kill herself because of you."

Bryce looked at Loghain and he could see the man wasn't lying, "How?"

"She sliced open her wrist," Loghain said with pain filled sob.

"I...," Bryce had no words he could say, guilt eating him up.

"I swear to the Maker and Andraste Bryce, if anything happens to Aurelia, I will kill you," Loghain slammed Bryce against the wall again for emphasise. Loghain threw Bryce out of his room slamming the door shut before he could injure the man any more than he already had.

Aurelia stood on the docks in Amaranthine, waiting to pay for her passage to Kirkwall, her turn had come, "To Kirkwall, please."

"7 Sovereigns," A gruff man demanded.

Aurelia handed over the money, taking her ticket. Walking back to her room at an Inn, she took in the atmosphere of Amaranthine, she was grateful that Howe was still in Denerim, she would be gone before Howe returned.

She thought about Loghain, she missed him so much, she would see him again one day, she just didn't know when. In her distraction, she realised she took a wrong street, confronted by 5 men and she had a no weapons on her.

"Give us your money Princess," A man demanded.

Aurelia heard a voice behind her, "Leave the Lady alone."

"And who are you, fancy armour?" Another of the men demanded.

"A Grey Warden," He replied.

The men ran away, Aurelia turned to her saviour, "Thank you, kind Ser."

The man chuckled, "It was a pleasure, My name is Alistair," The man bowed his head to her.

"I'm Aurelia, you were in the queue to get passage to Kirkwall."

"Yes, me and the other Grey Wardens are trying to recruit."

"At least I know I'll be safe on the journey," Aurelia chuckled.

"Yes, We Grey Wardens will protect you," Alistair offered his arm to Aurelia, who took it gratefully, leading her back to the Inn.

"I'll you on the Ship Alistair," Aurelia smiled at the charming man.

"You will Aurelia, take care of yourself," Alistair nodded.

Aurelia smiled grateful to have found someone friendly, she may need it in the coming months.