Alex's eyes opened to see the light of the sun blocked by the roof of a tent, and she blinked for several minutes, trying to remember where she was. Everything in her body hurt, and as she moved her arms, she winced, feeling the pain her shoulder. She took a moment to catch her breath, before looking down. Somebody had given her a shirt, but underneath it was a thick and heavy bandage, swathed green with potion on her shoulder.

"Ah! Cousin! It is good to see you're awake!"

She looked up just as the flap of the tent opened up, and she saw Marianna Hawke, smiling at her, looking like a red haired angel while carrying a tray of what she smelled as lamb stew and bread. Immediate behind her was an elf, tall and lithe, wearing spiky leather black armor. She blinked at the sight of the elf, as he looked rather extraordinary, with dark skin, shockingly white hair, and white markings that traveled down his arms, his neck and reaching his chin.

At the sight of Alex gawking at her companion, Hawke smiled again as she neared her cousin and laid the tray on a small stool beside her cot, "Alex, I'd like you to meet Fenris. He was with me during my time in Kirkwall. He is… a very important person in my life."

Fenris bowed a little, and at Hawke's words, Alex looked up at her, "Oh… so he's… ahh… it is an honor to meet you, Fenris."

"As it is with you, Inquisitor Trevelyan." Fenris said, his deep voice matched with a small smile, "I will leave you with your cousin for a moment. I'm sure you have a lot to discuss. I'll tell your husband you are awake. He would be very eager to see you."

Alex smiled up at him as he bowed again, and he turned and exited the tent. The moment he was gone, Alex gathered her energy and smacked Hawke's arm, drawing a surprised look from her cousin's face. "Sweet Maker, cousin! Where did you find an elf as hot as that?!"

Hawke blinked, before she laughed out, "Well, actually, he found me. But it's a long story. But he's been my friend during the entire time I was in Kirkwall, and he's helped me a lot. Cullen met him there, too, when we fought Knight Commander Meredith during the Rebellion." Hawke's fair skin turned pink, "We had… some history, some years ago. He was actually waiting for me in Weisshaupt when I left Skyhold a year ago."

"But Anders…" Alex said, but Hawke shook her head.

"Is dead. For several years." Hawke said as she took a spoon and lifted the stew, "I… I think I've mourned for him long enough. Fenris… he… he helped me become happy again… despite appearances."

Alex stared hard at her cousin, and she could see the contentment in her face as well. The dark lines under her eyes were gone, and she smiled much more often, too. The morose Hawke that was left behind upon Ander's death was slowly fading, and although she didn't know what exactly this Fenris did to help her, she was glad for it. She smiled at Hawke again, "Then I'm glad you found happiness again, cousin."

Hawke smiled warmly as she raised a spoonful of the soup to her mouth and Alex sipped it, groaning in relief at the warmth of the soup on her throat. "There were days when I thought I wouldn't be. But Varric was right. Since Ander's death, I changed… for the worse. And when Fenris found me in Weisshaupt, he convinced me to try again. And I did." She laughed a little, "Varric called him the angsty Tevinter elf, but… he has his moments…"

The flap of the tent opened again, and three faces looked at her in relief. Hawke set aside the soup on the table just as Solona ran towards her sister's side and embraced her from the side of the bed as Alistair and Cullen stood by her feet, smiling widely at her.

"Thank the Maker, you're alright!" Solona said in relief as her arms wound around Alex's neck, and she smiled as she patted her older sister's shoulder, "You had me worried!"

"Solona, you know Cullen would rather die than to let anything happen to her." Marian said as she leaned back and watched them. "Well, kind of. She did get flung by demon because Cullen wasn't watching."

Cullen snorted with laughter, "You were there when we fought that Nightmare demon before, Hawke. You of all people should know how hard it is to fight a demon thrice your size with eight legs."

Hawke laughed richly, "True enough, Commander."

Solona separated from her as Alex raised her eyes at Alistair, "Brother-in-law, how are you?" She said as she raised her arms at him for a hug.

Hawke moved aside to give some room for Alistair, and the Warden bent over and gave her a gentle hug. "Battered, bruised… but damned happy to be alive, frankly." He said as he let her go, "And I'm damned happy you're alive too. Solona would've ripped me a new one if something would've happened to you during my rescue."

"That's exaggerating a little bit, Alistair." Solona said as she settled down by Alex's side. Alex grinned widely at Alistair, who mouthed out She would at her, causing her to laugh out loudly before flinching as her rib hurt.

"How are you feeling, sister?" Solona said as she took Alex's hand, "Do you need more potions? Healers? Do you need another pillow?"

Hawke scoffed, but she was smiling, "Don't mother her, Solona. She's fine and alive. I was feeding her when you came in."

Alex nodded as she smiled brightly at Solona, "She's right. I'm fine, sister. A little sore, but I'm fine. Where are the others?"

"Daylen and the mages rode ahead to Skyhold." Cullen said as he watched her, "Dorian and Cole are helping some of the wounded in the fight, which included Stitches, but he will be fine. Bull is gathering up the rest of the Chargers to ride ahead to Skyhold later."

Alex sighed in relief, "That's good to hear. We're lucky to save Alistair without any casualties."

Solona smiled gratefully at Alex, "We owe that to you, sister. I do not know how to thank you. You saved my husband in a seemingly impossible task. I do not know how to repay you."

Alex shook her head and took Solona's hands in both of hers, squeezing them gently, "You do not have to thank me, Solona. I gave you the people… the resources… to find your husband. But we both know that he wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. It was your faith… your determination that found him, not me."

Solona's eyes watered with tears, and she bit her lip as she went forward and hugged her again, "Thank you, Alex. Thank you so much."

She smiled as she ran a hand down her sister's back, "You're welcome, Solona." And as the Warden drew back, she looked up at Alistair, "Well, what now? You're not going to return to Weisshaupt yet, are you?"

Alistair grinned, "Heading directly to Weisshaupt? After all this? Maker, no! I'm in desperate need of a vacation." Solona laughed out loudly, "No, I'm thinking that we're going to stay with you all in Skyhold for a bit. Then it's… well, off to find a cure for the Calling again, I guess."

Hawke nodded, "Fenris and I were heading to Kirkwall, too. We could stay for a bit in Skyhold, just until you've recovered."

"So I guess that's it then." Alex said as she smiled brightly at everyone, "A family vacation, it is! Well… you guys are going to be on vacation, considering you'll be staying in my home."

The four people around her laughed, "True! We'll try and not be such uncaring guests, then." Solona said, before she sighed and patted her knee under the sheets, "Well, if we're going to head to Skyhold, then I suggest you rest. You can't go home while you're still injured." She looked up at Cullen, "Cullen, as husband-on-duty, you're required to feed your wife the soup Hawke gave her. We'll be heading out for a bit to talk with the others."

Cullen nodded as he straightened, and Hawke, Alistair and Solona bent over and gave Alex a kiss. "Rest up, sister-in-law." Alistair told her as the two women headed out of the tent, "I owe you a pint when we get back to the tavern."

Alex smiled at him and waved with her uninjured arm, and Cullen headed over to her side, taking the bowl of soup and taking a spoonful. She smiled up at him and took a sip, before she gazed up at him admiringly, "Thank you."

He shook his head as he gave her another spoonful of soup, "You do not need to thank me. I did have my doubts that Ser Alistair was alive."

"But you fought through it." Alex said, as Cullen reached over with a napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth lovingly. "Even a Spirit of Valor commended your bravery. And I know we wouldn't have found Alistair if you hadn't let me come back to the Fade."

"You're my wife. Of course, I'm going to help you with whatever you need, even if I dislike it." Cullen said, grinning at her, making her smile before eating again.

Alex smiled at him luridly, biting her lip, and Cullen caught her gaze, making him turn red. She ran her hand up from his knee to his thigh, close to his crotch, making him swallow. "Well… what if I say that I have a … different need?"

At this, Cullen's gaze became heated as he raised the bowl of soup, "Then… I'll say you'd better finish your soup and get better, because I have a need, too."

She laughed loudly, but she nodded as her husband raised another spoonful to her lips, "Oh, Maker, we need a vacation, husband."

Cullen chuckled as he lowered the spoon, and put his hand over hers, giving her a gentle squeeze, "You know, I've actually been thinking of that. Ser Alistair and Solona wanted to spend their vacation in Skyhold, right? And so does Hawke and Ser Fenris?" Alex nodded, "Well, I was just thinking… since your siblings and your cousin are staying over, maybe we should let them baby-sit Alona while we head for our honeymoon… to Rivain."

Alex stared at him for moment, and seeing that he was serious, she smiled brightly at him, squeezing his hand in return, the bands of her wedding and engagement rings sparkling in the morning light. "I would like that very much, husband."