Obligatory Chapter Heading:

Chapter 7:

Nathaniel was still off, talking with his sister. Oghren was presumably in the tavern, drinking the bar dry.

That left me with nothing to do.

So, of course, I decided to do something that I shouldn't. At least, with so few numbers.

"Let's go now." I offered. Ordered. The line was blurred.

Anders raised an eyebrow, but didn't object. Instead, he led me straight to the building. He didn't even look to see if there was anyone watching. Just walked right in. Like he owned the place. Oh, I could see myself getting in to all sorts of trouble, with him as a companion.

I had the feeling he wouldn't yell at me, because he'd be just as guilty.

Once inside, he paused and frowned at the large room that stood empty of people, save us.

"Maybe they don't want to draw attention to the cache? Could we be that lucky?"

No. It was a trap. And I whispered as much.

"No. It's a trap. Watch, as soon as we go through that hallway, they'll pop up and try to arrest you. Maybe both of us." I could hear four people breathing.

"What if we have to fight them?" He eyed me. Concern etched in his features.

Concern over me being unable to kill people? Please. He had no idea what I was capable of.

OH! That reminded me. Alistair had never shown me if I was immune to Templar tricks! Maybe this would be the time to find out!

"And here I almost believed the infamous Anders wouldn't take the bait." that smug woman who had tried to stop his Conscription loomed in front of us.

"Ah. Yes, I suppose I should have known it would be you." He played along, pretending I hadn't warned him.

"You made a poor choice with this one, Commander." She addressed me, "Anders will never submit, not to us and certainly not to you, a child."

"He's made a fine Grey Warden so far." I smiled politely, ignoring the jibe.

"'So far,' yes." She sneered. I wanted her to hurry up, so I could punch her in the face. "I'll make sure that this murderer is never a bother to anyone again."

"What?" he waved his arms through the air, "No, you can't arrest me! King Alistair allowed my conscription!"

I hid my frown. What had he expected? They weren't here to outright kill him. Otherwise, they would have already attacked. They wanted him to come with little struggle. Wanted me to hand him over.

"The Chantry's authority," No. "supersedes," Oh, don't say it. "the crown in this matter." Oh, no. She actually thinks I would be all right with that? My hands were behind my back, so she couldn't see them ball in to fists. "You cannot hide within the Grey Wardens' ranks."

"I'm afraid you'll be leaving empty-handed. You see, he's not going anywhere with anyone if I don't allow it. And I certainly wouldn't ask him to go with you, of all people."

"Hardly surprising, from a mage sympathizer." A mage sympathizer? I had to work hard to keep from laughing outright. She had no idea. "I do not know how you inspire such loyalty, Anders, but it will avail you naught. Now you come with us."

She roared a battle cry, raising her sword above her head. The other Templars rallied to her side.

Anders' hands glowed with a soft bluish light as he summoned the power of ice to him, and I took that time to get right in the leader's face and grin darkly. Her eyes widened, growing dim as the life fled in the wake of my blade kissing her stomach.

I had always taken excellent care of my weapons, making sure they were as sharp as they could possibly be. Her paltry armor was no match for the dagger. It simply didn't measure up.

I whirled around before her body had even hit the floor, only to see that Anders had frozen the other Templars. Human ice sculptures. Ready to be shattered, and I was all too willing to do it. No one talked about the King that way. No one supported it, either. Not while I was around to hear it.

"I hope you aren't too put out that I killed her before you could." I kicked the woman's corpse lightly.

"It's all right." He flashed a smile, quickly turning somber, "I wonder if Namaya set this up? I guess it doesn't really matter."

I frowned, looking away. It didn't matter. I doubted he would see her again, and we were alive.

"Thank you." His expression was unusually open, gratitude clear, "You stood by me, and I appreciate that."

"You're a friend." I blurted, surprising myself. Yeah, he was. I had to stop becoming attached so easily. What was it about the people of Thedas that had me so unguarded? "Friends stick up for each other." It was something I'd learned in my travels with the others during the Blight.

"I... guess they do." Confusion and bewilderment stared back at me, his bottom lip puckering slightly. He shook himself. "Anyhow, let's go before someone else rushes in to waggle a finger at us."

"It's a shame that it wasn't here, though. It would have been nice, an added protection against the Chantry influences." I muttered, more to myself than to him.

He nodded absentmindedly.

We returned to the market shortly after, with me chomping at the bit to be by myself to peruse the wares.

Nathaniel found us, a smile of contentment on his face, "She said she wants me to come back, once all this is done. Meet her husband. She's due by the spring. She seems happy." the smile faded, "She said Father deserved to die! I still can't believe it."

"You don't believe her?" I tilted my head, watching him closely.

His eyes narrowed, "I thought he had his reasons. It was a war, for Andraste's sake!" He paused, noticeably collecting himself. "Before I went to the Free Marches, he was never... how could he have changed so much?"

"It's not your fault." I frowned up at him.

"What if I'd never left? I didn't have much choice, but still... I wish I'd known some of this sooner. I feel like such a fool. Now, please... let's get back to our business. I need to think."

"How about you find Oghren," I patted Anders' arm, "and we'll head back after that. We're pretty much done here. Only have to find those hunters that Ser Garevel mentioned to me yesterday."

"I have to find the dwarf?" the mage pouted.

"Yes, you have to find the dwarf." I pointed to the tall building that stood overlooking the market, "You'll find him near the tavern. If he's not in there, he's around somewhere. Wandering around drunkenly. Just tell him we're going back."

He eyed me dubiously, "He's going to listen to me?"

"Of course." I waved my hand, warding off his silly concern, "I knew him from traveling through Ferelden, stopping the Blight. He'll listen. Now, go."

Jumping backward a few steps, he made an aha! noise, "You can't push me, if I'm over here."

"You're not wrong." Shrugging, I walked past him.

He and Nate shared a look, the rogue rushing to catch up to me. I can walk pretty quickly, for how short my legs were.

"I'm guessing the towering, looming building up there is the Chantry." I motioned ahead of us.

"Yeah." I could tell his mind was elsewhere, and he wasn't in the mood for a chat.

I left it at that. He would talk when he was ready.

A noise of disapproval left him as we got closer, catching my attention. I waited, but he kept quiet. Following his gaze, I frowned a little. Stared in silence.

"It figures, actually." Nathaniel suddenly muttered, unable to keep his thoughts to himself any longer.

"What does?" I raised an eyebrow. It wasn't uncommon to find statues of the Bride of the Maker everywhere the Chantry thought it should be.

"There used to be another statue here." That piqued my interest. "It was of Byron Howe, my great-uncle. He died in the rebellion, helping King Maric reclaim his throne. Yet his statue is gone." He shook his head, "All because of what my father did."

"That's... a shame." my frown grew as I looked back up at Andraste's face, wondering if there was anything I could do. That sister from Denerim owed me, for the information from the Sacred Temple.

"It truly is." A heavy sigh. "There's a long line of heroes in my family. The Howes have been around since Calenhad. Now it's all gone. And for what?" Frustration rolled off him in waves now. "For being on the wrong side of the war. For choosing poorly."

"You're not wrong." His head whipped up, and he stared with anger in his wide eyes. In fact, so were Anders and Oghren, minus the anger, who had just walked up. "If Loghain had won, not Alistair, things would have turned out so much differently. Your father would have been hailed a war hero. Your family would have been elevated to an even higher position, for their services to the crown. But this is the present, here and now. This is what's happening, what really matters. What ifs get you nowhere. But you know what? Your family can redeem itself. Just because there was one bad seed, doesn't mean the entire field is rotten. It's up to you to turn that around. You're the only hope for generations of Howes to come. Don't throw it away because your father went down a dark path for what he believed in."

My pretty speech was met by silence.

"I've done horrid things, in the name of what I believe to be right. And yet, I'm a hero. I'm the Hero of Ferelden." I raised my eyes to the sky, thinking for a moment, "I heard something, I can't remember where, but it went something like this: 'History is written by the victor.'" As I lowered my head, my gaze found something-someone-that I hadn't expected. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I see a mage I know. And you three may leave the city and head back whenever. I'll be along eventually." I dismissed the three of them, leaving without a backward glance.

I was pretty sure they would all leave, especially Nathaniel. He had a lot to think over. Our visit to the city had been much more fruitful than I'd anticipated.

As soon as she noticed me, she gasped and opened her arms, "Oh, it is so good to see you, my friend. I had heard you were soon to arrive at Vigil's Keep, but I did not know when."

"Oh, I missed you!" I threw myself at her, the two of us hugging fiercely. "I'm sorry I didn't write. Things have been busy. It was by chance that I learned the Wardens here required my assistance." I pulled back, giving her a once-over. "You look tired."

"The College of the Magi is convening in Cumberland, and I must attend. Hopefully all this will blow over before it's begun." All of what? I was clearly missing something. "But you have enough on your mind as it is. I shan't trouble you with this further."

Oh, really? But you had my interest, Wynne! "Indulge me, please." I asked with as much control as I could muster. Even when we'd been traveling together, she hadn't seemed so out of sorts.

"Very well. Then perhaps you should know that something stirs within the fraternities." I vaguely recalled Surana and Amell explaining to me the different schools of magic on our journey to Ostagar. "The Libertarians wish to pull away entirely from the Chantry. And if they get enough support..." She looked down in sadness.

"Pull away entirely?" I tilted my head, "Isn't that madness? The Chantry would retaliate by locking mages up even tighter." This was a disaster waiting to happen.

"Well, it could turn out to be nothing. But keep your ear to the ground, anyway." She straightened, an air of importance about her, "Now, I have a great many preparations to make before I leave for Nevarra. But perhaps there is something you can do for me."

"Go on." I murmured when she paused.

"One of my... colleagues, Ines, has spent the last few months in the Wending Wood. The Circle has been unable to reach her, given the trouble in the area." Gesticulating with her hands, she tried to smile, "If you happen to find yourself in the wood on your travels, perhaps you could tell her about the meeting of the College."

"What's she doing in the Wending Wood?" I was assuming the Wood was a dangerous place.

"Oh, who knows. Rooting around in the dirt for some obscure plant or other, most likely. She has a keen interest in gardening. Oh, I'm sorry, I meant botany." her tone soured, turning sarcastic.

Honestly, I loved this side of her.

"Hobbies and eccentricities aside, Ines is a well-respected mage and a voice of reason, something we could use on our side."

"I could definitely see the usefulness of such a woman. I'll see what I can do." I clasped her hands in mine, giving them a reassuring squeeze.

We stood like that for a few minutes, until she glanced about in surprise, "The hour is late and I must go. It was wonderful to see you again. Take care, my friend."

"Take care of yourself, Wynne. You're much too young to have that frown between your eyebrows." I giggled as she rolled her eyes at my words. I liked that she wasn't as uptight. I wondered idly if it was because I wasn't her superior.

I added taking a stroll through the Wending Wood to my list of things to do. It was going to need another parchment soon. Well, as soon as I wrote it down, it would take up at least two pages. Unless I wrote it front and back.

Oh, a Chanter's Board? I snagged all of the papers nailed to it. One in particular was of interest, talking about needing health poultices. I had plenty to spare, being by myself at the moment.

I sidled up to the Chanter, waiting for her to finish her prayer. Didn't want to interrupt.

"Repent and have faith," She stood, smiling peacefully, "and you shall know the peace of the Maker's benediction."

My hands found the bottles, and I set them out on the bench beside her. Her smile grew.

"Give shelter to the weary, and lift up the weak; in time, the Maker will see and smile upon your deeds."

Right. I bowed my head toward her, then left as quickly as possible. No lie, the Chanters creeped me out. All they did was use verses of the Chant of Light when they spoke. It wasn't natural.

Says the girl hiding she's a mage, even though she didn't have to. I pinched my arm, getting back at myself for the thought. Then I frowned. I really was strange.

Quick glances up and down the streets told me that my fellow Wardens had either left, or were at least out of sight. I also couldn't sense them.

I tried. I tried so hard to stay on track. Look through the market. Find something I wanted. I thought I'd seen a stall selling herbs. But just outside the market area, a man calling out eagerly.

"Warden-Commander! Thank the Maker you're finally here!" I fixed a smile on my face, focusing on him, "I was afraid our messages never got through to you!"

"They got through." I lied. No idea who this guy was, but he lit up like a Christmas tree at my words.

"Thank you for coming to the guild. We need your help."

Yeah... I'd gathered that much.

"Our caravans are being attacked. The weapons are burned to ashes, and there... there have been no survivors." he looked away, his sad expression morphing in to determination when he met my eyes again. "It's gotten worse lately. People from the neighboring villages have found guards torn limb from limb and left in the village square."

So publicly? And the guards were none the wiser? Curious.

"Do you have any suspects in mind?" I asked, frowning now.

"We don't know for sure. Communication has been difficult with the attacks. But people in the area said they saw monsters lurking in the shadows." Darkspawn? "Whatever it is, it's completely crippled trade between Amaranthine and Denerim. No one wants to travel the road through the Wending Wood." Wending Wood? Again? "Can the Grey Wardens help at all?"

I searched his face, finding only genuine emotion. He was truly pleading for our help.

"I'm heading there tomorrow, anyway. We'll investigate the area for you." I assured.

"Oh, Maker bless you and watch over you!" I thought he was going to jump for joy. "If you can stop the killings, the Merchants' Guild will make a hefty donation to your organization. You have my promise."

I felt a jolt at those words. I shoved it away, absentmindedly rubbing the back of my neck as the man moved away.

Another man, standing not too far away, waved me over. "You're the sort who delights in helping the common man, yes? May I direct you to the Merchants' Guild's board?" Presented the message board next to him like we were on a game show.

"Is there something you need help with?" My stomach sank. It felt like I couldn't talk to anyone, without being tasked with quests.

"Me? No, not me, personally." He waved off the question as if it was supposed to be obvious. "Folk here often need goods from far-flung parts. They post the requests here." he must have seen my reticence, because he added kindly, "There is good coin in this, particularly with trade halted by the trouble on the roads. If you ever feel inclined, please... take a look at the jobs available."

I bit my lip, my eyes roaming the board. A caravan carrying silks had been lost in the Wending Wood. A Chantry scholar wanted copies of missing verses from the apocryphal-I narrowed my eyes, wondering what the word meant-canticle of Maferath. They were offering a sizable reward. A Ser Alvard was missing his sword. Oh, wait. No. The sword was missing and someone else was looking for it. Ser Alvard was "likely dead by now." That sounded cheery. It was the last one that had me judging this entire city.

"Keep Out of Reach of Children:

"The Merchants' Guild has received word that a lethal Antivan poison is being sold in Amaranthine, smuggled in to Amaranthine by unsavory characters. constable Aiden has asked that the guild find a way to take this poison off the streets. The Merchants' Guild, of course, has nothing to do with the import of this poison, and is trying our level best to cooperate with the guard. The guild will pay for each bottle of the Antivan poison turned in to Kendrick.

"Please help keep this wicked substance out of the hands of our children.

"The Merchants' Guild."

What.

I slowly faced the market, spying one particular bottle that seemed to be on quite a few of the surfaces. Sighing, I quickly collected them all. Tried not to roll my eyes at how easily it had been accomplished as I returned to the man, presuming him to be Kendrick.

"Here you are." I held them out, "The Antivan poisons."

He exchanged them for seven gold pieces. I felt my eyebrows shoot up. That much? For keeping poison off the streets, out of the hands of the children? They must have really wanted to prove to the guard they had nothing to do with it getting in the city.