Authors Note: I never liked the idea in the game that Fergus was off on a scouting party… he was the heir to the Teyrnir of Highever, a noble; realistically there would be no way he'd be participating in some random scouting party. He would have been part of the planning with Loghain and Cailan. His role would have been much bigger than it was in the game. Please review and let me know what you think.

-O-

Chapter 10 – Family ties

Aedan

He watched her walk away, his hand still warm from her touch. This was not how it was supposed to be, they were supposed to be together. Aedan clenched his hands as she was led away by strangers; it was taking all of his willpower to not go after her. Duncan broke his internal fight when he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Come Aedan, she is in good hands. Riordan will not allow anyone to harm her, you have my word." Duncan's words were of little comfort but he knew he needed to go inside. He had to talk to Fergus and Cailan about Highever. He signed and followed Duncan into the pavilion, the sooner this was over with the sooner he could find Amara.

The inside of the pavilion was richly decorated with rugs and pillows. There was furniture as well; tables and chairs made of polished oak filled the room. At a far table sat Cailan in his golden armor looking bored and disinterested as his brother and Loghain discussed the latest scouting reports.

"… There are hordes of darkspawn that are just disappearing. The scouts see them at dusk and at dawn they are just gone, the tracks disappear into the mud of the bogs. Other nearby scouts on the other side of the bogs never saw them come out. Where are they going? We've even sent scouts into the bogs and they are not there," said Fergus. "I don't like this Loghain, if we can't accurately track the darkspawn we have no idea when or where they will strike us."

"Maybe this whole darkspawn threat is just a little exaggerated? I've told you and the Grey Wardens for weeks that this was not a Blight, just a few more darkspawn than normal. Maybe they are going back into the Deep Roads?" Loghain scoffed. "While we are down here chasing darkspawn shadows, Howe goes unpunished. I have reports that his men have been spotted near Denerim. Are we willing to risk Denerim as we idly sit by waiting for darkspawn to amass and attack us?"

"Denerim is well protected Loghain, Ser Cauthrien has been sent back with a battalion of men to ready the city guard should Howe be stupid enough to try and take Denerim. The darkspawn threat is real, the scouts have seen too many for this to be considered normal," replied an exasperated Fergus.

"They are not going back into the Deep Roads… they are burrowing underneath you," said Duncan. All heads turned towards them at the entrance.

Loghain snorted. "And how do you know that Duncan?" he sneered. Duncan approached the table leaving Aedan at the entrance.

"I know this because I and two recruits ran into a horde of them not two days journey from here. We managed to cave in the tunnel, there are no telling how many more than the hundred or so we killed were in that tunnel. There is no telling how many tunnels they have into Ferelden." The room was silent after Duncan's statement. Fergus pushed his chair back and quickly stood, his eyes locked on Aedan.

"Aedan?" he asked quietly as he just noticed him by the entrance. Aedan bowed his head.

"Hello brother…" he said simply. Fergus rushed past Duncan to stand before his brother. For a brief moment Aedan thought his brother would strike him, so fierce was the look in his eyes. Fergus didn't say anything; he just stood there looking at him for a moment. Aedan could barely meet his eyes, all of the guilt and sorrow he had been bottling up for days was surfacing. Fergus didn't hit him as he feared; instead he clasped his shoulders and pulled him into a hug.

"I received Duncan's letter two days ago… I don't know how you survived brother but my heart is glad," he said as he roughly patted him on the back. "That bastard Howe will pay. I will see to it," he seethed.

"I couldn't save them," Aedan whispered. "By the time we reached Oriana and Oren it was too late. I'm so sorry Fergus." Aedan was unaware of the tears that streaked down his cheeks as he held on to his brother. "I failed to protect them. I failed them all." Fergus jerked back from his brother and shook his head angrily.

"There was nothing you could have done. Howe knew that, all of our forces were committed to Ostagar. What were you going to do against several battalions of men? You would be as dead as everyone else. Father was right to send you with Duncan. No brother, the blame is not with you. You are lucky you made it out of there alive." He grabbed Aedan's arm and pulled him toward the door. "Come on, let's get a drink. We can talk about this more when I'm less sober." Aedan looked to Duncan for permission.

"Go ahead; I will brief King Cailan and Loghain on the darkspawn we ran into. I'll have you items sent to the Grey Warden area. We have our camp on the far side of the main bonfire. You will see our banners," Duncan said as he walked to the far side of the pavilion where Loghain and Cailan were waiting.

-O-

They left the area and headed to smaller less grand tent but still larger than most. Fergus led him in, it was sparsely furnished. There were a couple chairs, a cot and a few trunks located inside. Fergus pulled a key from his pocket and opened one of the trunks and pulled out a bottle of Antivan brandy and a couple of glasses. Aedan quietly took a seat at the small table, his thoughts still focused on the night of the attack on Highever. Fergus poured them both a drink before settling back in his chair.

"Tell me everything brother, do not leave one thing out. The letter we received from Duncan had the basics but I want to know everything that happened to you," said Fergus as he took a large drink from his glass. Aedan did the same, his hands slightly trembled. He sighed as the golden liquid warmly coated his throat as he drank; he finished his glass and sat it on the table while Fergus refilled it. He started telling Fergus what happened that night in extensive detail. He left nothing out as he relived the horrors of that night. At one time Fergus threw the now empty bottle at the ground and smashed it. He abruptly retrieved a second bottle from the chest. He kept Aedan's glass full until the tale was done. Fergus slammed his fist onto the table startling Aedan.

"Howe will die if it's the last thing I do and I will make his death last days. There will be no mercy for that monster," Fergus said before slamming another glass of the brandy. Aedan sat there quietly, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders now that he told Fergus what happened that night. They sat there in silence for a long while, neither brother wished to discuss it further. He took his gloves off so that he could rub his eyes, he didn't even think about the runes on his hands until Fergus brought it up.

"What happened to your hands brother?" Fergus grabbed one of his hands so he could get a better look. Aedan pulled his hand away and replaced his gloves.

"That is a story for another night; I should be getting back to the Grey Wardens…" Aedan went to stand up and the room started to spin, he immediately sat back down. Fergus laughed at him.

"Well since you are staying…" Fergus poured him another glass. Aedan glared at him and waved off the drink. "Come now brother, it's still early we have plenty of time. Tell me how your hands were branded." Aedan sighed and picked up the glass for another drink he had told himself he wouldn't take.

"I met a woman, her name is Amara. She was recruited by Duncan from Kinloch Hold." At the mention of the Circle Tower Fergus raised an eyebrow at him. Aedan caught the look and sighed. "Yes she's a mage… a very beautiful and powerful one." Fergus gave him an appraising look.

"If I didn't know better, I would think my little brother is in love." Fergus laughed and poured himself another drink. Aedan sat there quietly staring at his glass. "No! You are aren't you?" Fergus slammed his glass on the table in a fit of laughter. "I told you didn't I? I told you one day this would happen my broody little brother." Fergus was practically in tears. Aedan growled and kicked his brothers chair leg sending him toppling to the ground. Fergus was still laughing as he lay on the ground.

"Oh now I know for sure," he said as he pulled himself up and sat back in the chair. He refilled both their glasses. "So tell me how this happened in the short journey from Highever to here?" Aedan didn't want to discuss this with Fergus now but every time he tried to stand up the room would spin leaving him trapped in his chair.

"You're drunk," Aedan mumbled. Fergus took another drink.

"Aye brother, so are you. Now tell me about this woman… Amara and what she has to do with those marks on your hands." Aedan glared at his brother and Fergus smirked in return. "You can give me that angry look all night brother but you are going to spill it or I will go find this young lady myself and ask her how she managed to do what no noble women could do." Aedan laughed at that.

"You don't even know what she looks like," he said as he tried to stand again and failed.

"Oh but I do, let me see… long golden red hair braided, emerald green eyes, full red lips and fair skin. Very difficult to miss a woman that resembles that description." Aedan just stared at him dumbfounded that Fergus knew about Amara.

"How?" he asked.

"Calian… when he got back from the bridge couldn't shut up about a woman he saw there. I thought Loghain was going to run him through at one point," Fergus chuckled. Aedan groaned and covered his face with his hands. Fergus clapped his hand on his brothers back. "Don't worry about it brother, Calian isn't that stupid. He knows he'd risk alienating not only the Highever forces in his army but the Grey Wardens if he so much as touched her inappropriately." Fergus poured himself another drink. He leaned back in his chair and watched his brother wrestle a mixture of emotions. "So… are you going to talk or do I need to start walking?" Aedan signed, he knew his brother would have the audacity to go track down Amara.

"I don't know what you want me to say. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was special… the more I talked to her and spent time with her I just knew. I finally had the courage to tell her that I love her this morning." Aedan took another drink from his glass; this was not a conversation he wanted to have with his brother.

"Why do I feel like you've told me nothing?" grumbled Fergus. Aedan glared at him.

"You want specifics? I've never asked you the same questions about any of the women you've been with. I would expect the same courtesy granted to me," Aedan said defensively.

"Yes I want specifics! My brother the man who had to be dragged to the Pearl by two men..." Aedan snorted at that comment. "My brother the man who wouldn't look twice at any of the noble girls' shows up here with a beautiful mage on his arm and says he's in love with her. You also have some type of marks on his hands he won't explain… so yes I want specifics." Fergus leaned forward and looked at him. "Is she a blood mage?" The look Aedan gave his brother at that moment would have struck most men with fear.

"You are lucky you are my brother Fergus or I'd run you through for even having the nerve to ask that question," Aedan said in a low voice. Fergus waved his hands in surrender, not wanting to push his brother too much.

"Calm down brother, I had to ask. You should get used to it; you know how people feel about mages. I'm sure I won't be the last to ask that question. Ok, so she's not a blood mage… that's good. So what is she? A healer?" Aedan remembered when Amara healed his scar before they left the tower. His memory then flashed to Amara harnessing a lightning bolt in her bare hand. She was so magnificent then, like a goddess… his goddess. Fergus noticing the faraway look in his brother's eyes waved his hand in front of his face. "Still with me brother?" Aedan looked at him, his eyes refocusing to the present, he nodded.

"Her magic is different, that is why the First Enchanter contacted Duncan… the Knight Commander at Kinloch was looking for a way to get rid of her." Aedan remembered how they had her locked in that small room when they arrived. His anger started to build again.

"What do you mean, get rid of her? They were going to kill her?" Fergus asked his eyes widened. Aedan nodded.
"They were just looking for a reason. She had even helped them track down blood mages and healed so many… Greagoir was still going to do it," Aedan snarled. "If they knew how powerful she really is they would come after her, I'm not going to let that happened." He grabbed his neglected glass and took another large drink.

"How powerful is she?" asked Fergus his voice full of trepidation. Aedan glanced at his brother and saw the worry in his eyes.

"Powerful enough to kill an ogre single handed and collapse their tunnel on them," he said quietly.

"How? You have to be joking… the mages I've seen in battle here can barely restrain an ogre much less kill it," Fergus asked his voice full of skepticism.

"I've seen her reach to the sky and pull a lightning bolt from it with her bare hands and send it through the chest of an ogre." Fergus whistled in amazement. "Her magic is different than other mages; she takes power from her surroundings, not lyrium. That's why the Chantry fears her and why you must not tell anyone what I've told you. Duncan knows but neither he nor I want the King or Loghain to know." Fergus shook his head and reached for his glass again.

"I won't say anything but doesn't this bother you? Doesn't the magic scare you?" Fergus asked. Aedan stared down at his glass, he swirled the golden liquid around before responding.

"I admit it did at first… when the first rune appeared. I was scared and said things I regret even now… She was so upset that her magic had affected me that she offered a blade to Duncan to kill her before she harmed anyone else." Fergus just looked at him shocked. "She had thought the worst when the first rune appeared… so did I but they are a gift, not anything evil or bad. It was when the second on appeared that the reason became clear why I was marked." Aedan had removed his gloves and was admiring the two runes, tracing their outlines with his fingers.

"Why are you marked brother?" Fergus asked quietly as he watched Aedan cautiously.

"I am her Champion; I am marked so I can protect her. These runes enable me to wield some of her magic in battle. Duncan said I cut down well over 70 darkspawn to protect her when we ran into the horde on our way here." Fergus just stared at him the shock evident on his face. "I couldn't believe it myself but Duncan is not one to lie about something like that." Aedan noticed the look of worry on Fergus' face. Aedan smiled at him and said," you need not worry about me Fergus, I am happy with her and my role to protect her. I feel as though I have a purpose now, for years I have not felt that way. My life was dictated to me… I would have been the Captain of your guard; I would have been forced to marry some lesser nobles' daughter that I didn't love. You'll understand once you meet her."

"Well if that's the case, let's go." Fergus rose up out of the seat and staggered towards the chest that has the brandy in it.

"I don't think I could stand much less walk to the Grey Warden camp," Aedan said as he attempt again to stand but could not. He started to think that in his drunken state if he just lay down on the floor now everything would be better.

"Lucky for you brother that I plan ahead…" Fergus said as he reached into the chest to pull out two vials of brown liquid. He closed the lid and stumbled back to his chair. "Here drink this." He said as he handed one of the vials to Aedan.

"What is this?" Aedan pulled the cork at the top and smelled the liquid. "By the Maker this smells horrible! What is it?"

"After I found out what happened in Highever I hit the bottle, well you can't help manage soldiers if you're passed out in your own vomit. One of the mages, she made me a batch of these potions after I stumbled into the mage camp one night. It works… you can drink yourself into a stupor; drink one of these potions and in a few minutes you are fine." Fergus pulled the stopper and drank the foul liquid in one swallow. He tossed it to the corner of the tent. Aedan noticed there were several other empty vials littering the ground there. Aedan shook his head and choked down the liquid. He started to feel the fog in his brain lift. He tried to take a stand again and was now able to do it. He smiled at his brother; he took a few steps and felt his balance return. Fergus clapped him on the back and shoved him towards the tents entrance.

"Let's go little brother, take me to meet this woman of yours," Fergus said as they left to find the Warden Camp.

-O-

Fergus seemed to know where the Wardens were camping so Aedan fell in line behind him. The sun was setting in the sky casting long shadows across the ruins. Darkness was quickly approaching, as they walked through the camp several torches and camp fires sprung to life. Aedan was glad they had left Fergus' tent when they did. It would be impossible to navigate the area at night. He also just wanted to see her again. They had only been separated for a few hours but it felt like days for Aedan. He felt himself grow more anxious as they traveled through the maze of tents.

They reached an area that had a banner of two griffons on it. Fergus led him inside the area. There were several tents surrounding a larger one in the center. Standing outside the larger tent was Duncan and the man who had taken Amara away from him… Riordan. He looked around and did not see Amara anywhere. Duncan noticed them standing at the entrance of the camp and waved them over.

"Good evening gentlemen, I trust all is well?" asked Duncan. Aedan barely noticed the question; he was too focused at looking around the camp for Amara.

"Everything is good; we're here to see the mage that has my brother hopelessly enthralled. Do you…" Aedan punched his brother in the arm when he heard that comment. "Ow! No need for violence brother I was just stating the obvious." Duncan and Riordan both smirked at Aedan's obvious discomfort. "Anyway, do you know where she is?"

"She's tending the wounded," responded Riordan. "She insisted after she saw some wounded scouts return from the Wilds. Alistair is watching over her." Aedan sighed, he did not like the idea of her being alone with just the one Warden but he knew why she insisted to go.

"Are they at the normal triage area?" asked Fergus. Riordan nodded. "Come on Aedan, that's just over this ways a bit." They took their leave and headed to where the wounded were kept.

When they arrived Aedan was dismayed over the number of wounded soldiers there were. He wondered if Loghain ever visited this place to see the amount of men had been wounded by the non-existent darkspawn threat. Aedan looked around the area searching for her. He caught the glimpse of a greenish blue glow coming from one of the far beds. His pace quickened when he saw the glow fade. Fergus had to nearly run to keep up with him. He found her sitting on a stool next to the bed of a wounded soldier. Her eyes were closed as she rested her hands on a large wound on his leg. The magic poured out of her hands and into the injured man's leg. He watched in awe as the flesh started to knit itself back together. He heard Fergus gasp to his left. The glow brightened to nearly a bright white color before fading again to a dull greenish blue glow. Aedan could see that the wound was gone and new flesh was in its place. She gently then took a cloth and wiped the blood off the man's leg. She waved her hand and he noticed Alistair appear from somewhere near the foot of the bed with a small bucket. She rinsed the cloth then and folded it up and rested it on the man's forehead. Her hands rested on each side of the man's head and her hands started to glow a vibrant blue. The glow faded and she sat back and waited. Aedan watched as the man opened his eyes. He was still too far away to hear what she said to the man, he could just see the man was smiling at her. She stood and wiped her hands on an apron she was wearing. She turned and saw him. Amara smiled at him, her heart was in her eyes. Aedan's breath caught in his throat, she was positively radiant. She removed the blood stained apron and rushed to him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Aedan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. At that moment everything seemed right in the world. He heard Fergus clear his throat then. With a slight groan he broke the kiss so he could introduce her to his brother. His arms still wrapped around her he turned to his brother.

"Amara, I'd like you to meet my brother Fergus," he said as he extended a hand toward his brother. Amara looked a bit embarrassed. She pulled away from Aedan and approached Fergus.

She curtseyed and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you my lord. My deepest sympathies for the loss of your family, I will do whatever I can to assist in bringing Howe to justice." She kept her head bowed. Fergus reached for hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles.

"Thank you my lady and it is a pleasure to meet the woman who has won my brothers heart," he said with a grin. Even in the fading light Aedan could see her cheeks turn pink. Fergus let her hand go and stepped back by Aedan.

"Are you all done here?" asked Aedan. Amara shook her head.

"There is one more that I need to heal tonight the rest can wait until tomorrow." She said as she pointed to a bed not far away.

"Would you like to join us for late supper when you are done here?" asked Fergus. Aedan gave him a look that Fergus ignored. Amara smiled and nodded.

"I would like that, I'm quite famished," she said. "It will only be few minutes longer." She rushed over to grab her stool before heading over to the next patient.

Fergus placed his hand on Aedan's shoulder. "You never stood a chance brother," he laughed.

-O-