Notes: Thank you for the reviews, Judy! Appreciate it! Thanks for everyone else that has read this far! Let me know what you think!


Chapter 7: Salacious Gossip

"'Tis not your concern what secrets I may or may not be keeping, qunari," Morrigan insisted.

"It is my concern if you have knowledge that can help us against the Blight!" Mercy yelled, furious now.

"Like, say, the recipe for the Joining or its ingredients, for example," Alistair added, happy to be part of the brigade against Morrigan.

"And I do," Morrigan added, looking up at Mercy unintimidated. "But you forget, Warden: I am here of my own volition, and could leave any time I wished. I will share what I know when I find it pertinent to share, or not at all. If this displeases you, I will take my leave now," Morrigan said, refusing to break eye contact with Mercy, challenging the qunari to contradict her.

"Fine," Mercy said, rolling her eyes. "Just make sure you stay useful. How many more could Join before you'd be required to restock?"

"I am unsure. The herbs are common enough, and I would say the archdemon blood would be sufficient for a maximum of a dozen more Wardens, perhaps fewer."

"Very well. That is sufficient." Mercy turned to the veritable crowd the Wardens had amassed to aid them in the Blight. "We will march tomorrow morning. Welcome to Wardens Brosca, Mahariel and… Does Diala have a last name, Mayrin?"

"Indeed she does, Ser Hissera. It's Aed—"

"She'll tell you if she wants, but may wanna keep you in suspense a little bit longer," Mayrin interrupted, giving Bodahn a threatening look. "Isn't that right, Feddic?"

"Suspense? Oh, exciting!" Alistair exclaimed.

"And Merrill?" Enid asked. "Last chance: you do not have to stay here if you don't want. You are free to go, really."

"No, I don't think so. I'll stay. I have to make sure one of our greatest young clanswomen doesn't get herself killed, especially after I worked so hard to save her."

"Ma serannas, lethallan."

"It will be so exciting to have two Dalish elves traveling with us! And two qunari! We could all learn much from one another, yes?"

"One qunari," Sten corrected her.

"I agree with Leliana," Rayne said. "Welcome, all."

"Now," Mercy said, turning to Bodahn. "Apparently, Wardens are outlawed in Ferelden, so going around in Warden armour wouldn't be the smartest decision. I assume you have armour for Alistair and I (and possibly Enid?), and robes for Rayne?"

"Armour for me? Why? Mine is perfectly satisfactory, and if the shemlen don't like it, they're welcome to take it up with me," Enid said, hugging her emerald ironbark armor and shield.

"Of course, Enid. Apologies. Bodahn?"

"Indeed! I'm sure you'll be pleased with the goods my boy and I have collected! And with your discount!"

Mayrin couldn't supress his laugh at that. Feddic's discount was… Suspect, at best.


Father had returned today, with grave news. Anora was allowed to mourn in private, but still had to be the stalwart queen Ferelden needed when in public. She spent the morning burying herself in her work, writing and responding to letters both inane and important, but was interrupted when she heard an urgent knock at the door.

"Yes?"

A familiar Orlesian accent called through the door "It is Erlina, Your Majesty, and I have news."

"Come in, Erlina."

The raven-haired elf stepped lithely into the room, bowing deeply to her queen. The room was warm and inviting, various Fereldan tapestries hanging on the walls and a beautiful crimson rug adorning the oak floor. Her bookshelf was overflowing with books, and the precision with which her desk was organized told one everything they needed to know about the queen.

Anora smiled fondly at her right-hand woman. "How was your evening, Erlina?"

"It was perfectly acceptable, Your Majesty," Erlina said, automatically checking every crevice or nook in which a spy, informant, assassin or even magical device might be hidden. "Though I received some interesting news from a friend of mine back home."

"Indeed?" Anora said, feigning disinterest. "Salacious gossip?"

At this point, Erlina was climbing out of the queen's window onto the battlements to look for things of the same nature as before, calling back in: "Not exactly, Your Majesty. An old flame, actually: Félix Larochelle."

That gave Anora pause, but she did her best not to show it. "That's wonderful news! Tell me all about it!"

At this point, Erlina slipped back into the room from outside, and sealed and locked her window, closing the curtains as well, all of her feigned enthusiasm disappearing along with Anora's.

"Keegan? He is alive?"

Finally sitting down, Erlina responded: "Indeed, Your Majesty, but his news is grave. He now travels with Nathaniel Howe, and they are en route to Redcliffe."

"The eldest? This confirms my suspicions. The Couslands… were not guilty of treason, were they?"

"Non. Not according to Lord Keegan, Majesty. Arl Howe acted without provocation. Here is the letter, in cipher. I will be outside your door to keep watch while you read it. Assurez-vous to—"

"Burn it when I am finished," Anora finished, chuckling. "I did learn a few things from you, after all."

"Bien sûr. Je suis désolée, Your Majesty."

"Do not worry, Erlina. I will call for you when I am finished. It will take awhile to recall the cipher, so do ensure to bring something to read while you are on guard."

"Take your time, Your Majesty," Erlina smiled. "I have already made arrangements to send your response off to our people in Redcliffe as soon as you are ready."

Anora nodded happily as Erlina bowed low and left the room. Leave it to Keegan Cousland to take her mind off the death of her husband.


The Wardens and their companions spent the better part of the day doing odd jobs around Lothering in order to pay for Bodahn's "discounted" armor. Enid never thought becoming a Grey Warden would entail chores for the human Chantry, but at least the tasks were fulfilling. It felt good to protect some people, human or elf, no matter how fruitless an endeavor it might ultimately prove to be. She regretted that her and Merrill had no halla to join them, but understood when Merrill told her they had refused to come any farther south. Enid wondered how long Merrill had dragged her on foot.

"I don't know how much more of these I can take," Alistair said, deflecting a bear claw with his shield. "It's becoming… Unbearable!"

"Are all humans like this?" Enid asked Mercy, slicing through a giant spider with Rage's End.

"No, but you get used to him," Mercy chuckled, decapitating a black bear.

"I'm right here, you know! Stop teasing! I can't bear it!"

"I can't blame him," Mayrin yelled, driving his axe into a wolf's head. "If we had these in Orzammar, I'd have been doing the same thing the whole time! Brontos don't give you enough opportunity."

He could hear Leliana chuckle at that as she loosed some more arrows, Sten merely grunting in dissatisfaction.

Enid just met these people, and she still wasn't sure that they weren't all out of their collective minds, but she liked them well enough. Not only that, but they saved her, something for which she would be forever grateful. She wouldn't fail them, not like Tamlen. By Mythal, she would protect these people from whatever came their way.