A/N This week is midterms. I forgot about them and had to study over the weekend to have a chance. Here's another chapter for everyone!

Read, Review, and Enjoy!

What happens when one of your allies supposedly sets fire to your entire campsite testing out his new staff?

"Morrigan may I sleep over here? I doubt they'll leave me be if I don't give them room." She rolls her eyes with a small smile and waves her hand to indicate a spot next to her tent I could set up. "Thanks."

Apparently their just recently acquired boyfriend threatens to kill you if you don't stay twenty feet away from them at all times.

"Having trouble with the toting couple are we?" She asks a few minutes later as I finish setting everything up.

I sigh, "Yeah, one should avoid setting fire to your leader's boyfriend's tent at all times, especially if you only just regained their trust."

She laughs, "T'was surprisingly amusing to see our fearless leader running about so frantically." I smile as she looks back to mother's Grimoire.

She's the only one besides Leliana that immediately defended me when Alistair attacked. I have to make it up to her somehow.

"Morrigan?" She looks up at me with a blank face, "Thanks for that orb, but how in all of Thedas did you manage to contain pure fade energy into a crystalline form?"

She smiles, "That, my dear sweet brother, is a secret for myself to keep and for you to ponder."

I laugh, "I'm sure, either way thank you for it, but I am still having trouble with the core of my staff." I indicate the scarred landscape and burnt tents behind me, "As you've seen."

She looks to my staff and I crack it open to show her the core rod. She smirks, "You don't have a clue about what you're doing don't you?" I shake my head, "Then give it here and observe." She grabs the staff from my hands as she stands and cracks it apart expertly before removing the core and placing a black branch inside and sealing everything up. "Try this brother."

I take it in my hands and cringe as the pure fade energy starts instantly burning my hand before I can contain it. "Hold sodding Creators..."

She crosses her arms with a satisfied smirk, "Fade energy only reacts with ancient heartwood. Tis simple knowledge to those who craft advanced staffs for powerful mages. My own was crafted from pure heartwood Mother kept in short supply at the hut."

I swing my staff around, forming ruin patterns that form into physical glyphs in the air itself as I test the agility of the energy. The glyphs stick and form a protective barrier to capture and cancel out any magical energy I cast that isn't fade energy. Spinning it around I decide some combat was in order and snap it towards a rock, a bolt of fade energy shoots from it to slap against the rock with a kinetic blast that cracks it indefinitely.

By the Dread Wolf...

I snap it in the second sequence of attack and the rock chips away. The third shatters it. The back-hand snap of the fourth sequence blasts a small crater where the rock used to be. I spin the staff around and pound the base into the dirt expecting it to blast the area with a powerful explosion. Tendrils of fade energy rip from the orb and fly around to slam into the crater and form a swirling orb of power before rapidly accelerating and blasting outwards, forming temporary hair-line fractures in the veil itself and setting the grass around it aflame with fade flames. "Holy sod!" I grin at the intense power my staff holds.

"Don't be too grateful brother, that core is not meant to last through intense combat. You'll need to replace it with an appropriately crafted and enchanted core rod otherwise it'll rip through the Veil during battle." I sigh in response.

There's always a trade-off.

I place it back in the loop on my back and shrug, "I'll see if the Dalish have something useful when we arrive."

She steps a bit closer, "There are... other things that I require to be done before then, brother."

I stare at her as she moves another step closer and brushes a hand up my arm with her eyes half-lidded. "Uh... I..." She smirks deviously at me as I stumble over myself.

"Tis interesting, don't you agree? That the two most powerful individuals in our little group have not decided their... allegiances." She whispers into my ear.

I close my eyes and can feel the intense heat coming off her body, her hot breath on my neck, her thin fingers slowly caressing my torso... "There are... problems we might correct in our own way in the coming months." I shakily respond.

"I wish to help in that endeavor..." She pulls back with a dangerously primal look in her golden eyes and I swallow in apprehension. "Join me and you will no longer need to fight alone in this struggle."

I close my eyes and hear what she said years ago...

"What am I if we are not insane beyond belief? We live in a hut! A hut in the middle of the wilds and still you cannot stop seeing her face?" Erianne no longer cares for me in that way. "Tis cold tonight, mind if I... correct that?" She knew her intentions years ago.

I open my eyes and see the brimming attraction and affection in her sharp and intelligent golden eyes. "Tis cold in my tent all alone..." She speaks airily.

I smile and move so close that our noses are almost touching due to our relatively even height.

I'm tall for an elf, I realized that a while ago, 5' 4-6".

I wrap an arm around her thin waist and her eyes light up, "We will have to fix that..." Her lips separate for a witty retort and I cut her off with a forceful kiss of primal passion that ignites everything she's been holding inside. We desperately pull at each-other's robes as we pull each-other towards her tent as quickly as we can.

She giggles as I kiss her exposed neck. She yanks my velvet off and expertly undoes my belted straps to get at my chest. Her sharp fingernails drag across my skin as I undo her top and expose her perfect che-

Varric coughs, "Well, that's the short update on Darien. He went into great detail about how they ravaged each other, but I don't think you'll want to here me recite those... steamy details." Cassandra raises an eyebrow at him and he clears his throat, "Now, lets finish up the Champion's arrival at Kirkwall." Cassandra watches Varric intently as he starts the tale of one of her original persons of interest. "After waiting for days and barely getting by with the coin they brought with from Lothering they were nearly at their wits end..."

Aveline continues to pace back and forth like a caged animal. "It's been three days." Bethany looks up from the tome Darien gave her to watch as Aveline starts degrading even further into madness. "This waiting has to end." Aveline declares desperately.

Leandra, who stood at the archway to their little alcove, turns with a hopeful expression, "I'm sure it won't be much longer. Gamlen must still be looking for us!" Bethany notices the small twitch in her mother's hands and she knows she doesn't believe her own words, but she has to stay strong for the group.

Aveline stops pacing to look at Leandra with disbelief, "And if he's not?"

"I'm sure he is."

Bethany closes her book with a short sigh, "You've said that eight times now mother, time to think of another way in."

Garrett turns his head from his group to spot a shadow moving up to their alcove, "Don't look now, but I think that's our man."

Everyone turns, hope finally starting to brighten. The shadow steps up to them to reveal a sickly looking elf and all hope is finally gone from the Hawke family. "I-I'm sorry but do any of you have s-something to eat perchance?" The strange elf asks desperately.

Garrett shakes his head truthfully, "We ran out of food yesterday."

"Oh. I-I'm sorry I bothered you." Is all the elf says before bolting it out of the alcove and back into the crowd.

Leandra closes her eyes and sighs tiredly, "Perhaps your right, but what else could we do?"

Bethany goes to try and answer her mother when another shadow pops up just behind Garrett to step into the light, "Leandra?" everyone turns as the graying middle aged man steps from the shadows to smile warmly to his sister. "Damn girl, the years haven't been kind to you."

Leandra jumps over and hugs him, nearly in tears from how relieved she is that he's here, "Gamlen!"

He takes it in stride and wraps his arms around his sister before hesitating as he speaks, "Let me say up front, I wasn't expecting this. The Blight, your husband dead... I'd, ah, figured you'd pretty much be Ferelden for life."

Leandra turns away to look at the ground sadly, "Oh, Gamlen, we nearly came too late. My darling children were almost malled by an ogre as we escaped." She looks apologetically to Aveline as she continues, "Aveline here lost her husband as he tried to protect me, Andraste guide him."

Gamlen groans and rubs his forehead, "Oh, Maker save me. Leandra, don't drop this on me here. I don't even know if I can help you get in?"

"What about mother?" Bethany asks worriedly, unable to contain her emotions any longer.

Garrett turns to Gamlen and smiles charmingly, "Would it help if I said you were my favorite uncle?"

Gamlen chuckles for a moment and smiles to the boy, "It'd make me feel better, but that's about it." He turns, now in a better mood, back to Leandra, "I was hoping to grease some palms, but the Knight Commander's been cracking down." His brow creases, "We're going to need more grease."

"But... what about the estate?" Leandra asks in confusion, "Surely father left something when he died?"

Gamlen looks away almost sadly, "Right, about the estate... It's, uh, gone. To settle a debt, I've been meaning to write you." He tries to justify.

"Then there's no hope." Leandra breathes in shock.

Gamlen clears his throat before anyone else can get even more depressed, "Not quite, I know some people who might help..." He looks at Garrett, "If you're not too delicate about the company you keep."

Bethany scowls at the idea, "Why don't we just leave?"

Her mother shakes her head in disbelief, "This was my home! I can't believe they won't let me come back."

Gamlen speaks up to try and explain, "Every city on the coast has been hip-deep in Fereldens since the Blight. You could try your luck further inland, I suppose, but it won't be easy."

This angers Carver who turns his frustration onto his sister in response, "We're not putting mother through that. We came here, we're staying here." Bethany sighs at his finality.

Garrett turns to his uncle with a small bit of optimism, "Let's here it uncle. What do you have in mind?"

"I talked to my contacts and I found some people who might be willing to pay your way into the city." He speaks carefully, making sure to keep his tone as neutral as possible. "The catch is you, your brother, and sister will have to work off the debt. For a year."

Leandra's eyes widen in shock, "A year!"

Gamlen frowns worriedly, "It's the best I could do! Trust me when I say a bunch of refugees won't get a better option anywhere else."

Bethany sees the obstacle and steps forward, "This will NOT stand in my way." Everyone looks at her in surprise at her directness, well, except for Gamlen why smiles at her as if she's always this direct.

Garrett laughs nervously, "I'm sure we'll be free and clear before we know it." He smiles at his own sarcasm.

Gamlen nods in understanding, "I managed to convince my contacts to come to the Gallows to meet you personally. Meeran heads up the mercenary company, the Red Iron. They're looking for recruits." He says with a slight bit of optimism before hesitating as he continues, "Athenrial... I guess you might call her a smuggler. Either one can help you. All you need to do is find them in the courtyard and convince them you're worth the trouble."

Garrett frown in deep thought for a moment, unsure which one to find first. He turns to his siblings, "What do you two think about this?"

Carver shrugs, "What can I say? Better here then nowhere."

Bethany crosses her arms, "Anywhere is fine, as long as I can study in peace."

Garrett nods in understanding, "Lets find them and see what they have to say."

Leandra has her doubts though, "Oh Gamlen I don't know about this."

Gamlen frowns at his sister, "It's a lot of coin Leandra. Don't go expecting our name to carry the kind of weight it used to."

Aveline steps forwards, "And what of me? I will not allow others to incur debts on my behalf."

Gamlen laughs under his breath, "Can't see that it makes a difference. You look like a lady who can pull her own weight." His smile is a bit unsettling for everyone.

"Then you'll come with us." Leandra offers kindly.

"I... have no real option. Thank you." Aveline responds gratefully.

"Alright, now lets play who can find the mercenary and smuggler in a sea of refugees." Garrett quips as they walk back down the hall and into the mildly filled courtyard. Hundreds more refugees arrived within the last three days alone. They even saw the family they kicked off their ship in the crowd and avoided them at all costs.

After a short walk around the courtyard Aveline spots something. "I see some men in the corner over there. They seem the mercenary types." Aveline declares.

Garrett looks and sees a few men in reddish armor and rough looks on their faces from multiple battles, "Good eye Aveline."

Moving over to the group, Garrett takes the lead as per the usual and steps up to the oldest and most battle-hardened of the mercenaries, "Meeran?"

The older man turns to set his hard gaze on Garrett and his group, "Huh. So you're Hawke? The nephew?" Garrett inclines his head to confirm and Meeran looks them over with a critical eye, "Your uncle talked up a storm about you, He better not be blowing more smoke out his ass."

Garrett blinks in surprise, "My uncle doesn't seem like the sort to hang out with mercenaries."

Meeran doesn't blink as he clarifies, "He doesn't. Gamlen cheated one of my men at a Wallop match. You turn out, we'll call it even."

Bethany frowns as she whispers, "I knew this sounded fishy!"

Carver doesn't hear as he's too enamored by first impressions, "So you're a mercenary?" He asks curiously.

Meeran looks at him with surprise before he gets it, "Right. You're not a Marcher like your uncle. The Red Iron is well known in these parts. We pick who for and keep our noses clean." His expression hardens, "But anyone screws with us, we mess them up, make sense?"

Aveline agrees, "Makes sense."

Carver's ecstatic at this point, All I know is if we join the company, I'm going to start talking like that." He states happily.

Bethany looks down at her feet with uncertainty, "This isn't what seems right, even though I understand their philosophy." She watches Merran for a moment, "You're paying a lot of money to help strangers."

Meeran smiles, "Your uncle mentioned you and your brother were mages. We're willing to pay for that."

Bethany swears angrily, "Damn it Gamlen."

Garrett swallows worriedly, "I didn't realize Gamlen told you that."

Meeran smiles brightly, "You stick with us, you'll be safe. For the year at least."

Garrett nods slowly as he starts to understand, "What do we need to do to prove ourselves?"

Meeran waves for them to come closer and they do, "Noble bastard named Friedrich is here in the Gallows. Gave us bad info, almost killed my men. Now he's hiding out here, waiting for a ship. He sees us coming, he'll run for sure. But he doesn't know you. Go kill him and his men. We'll make sure no one asks why." Meeran turns and walks back to lean against a pillar as they all walk back over to the crowds.

Bethany speaks up once they're out of ear-shot, "I'm all for killing betrayers, but do we really want to draw more attention to ourselves by killing someone in the Gallows? Kirkwall's Mage prison?" She asks worriedly.

Garrett sighs, "We might not have a choice, now lets go find this Athenrial."

Walking into the dark alcove where three armored elves stand, Garrett decides to step up to the blond female first, "Are you Athenrial?"

She turns and looks at them, "You must be Gamlen's nephew, interesting..." She looks them over critically with a small smirk before evening out her features to get back to business, "I don't know what he told you about us, but he certainly told us a great deal about you." She looks over at Bethany, "Both of you."

Bethany groans, "Gamlen and his big mouth."

Carver coughs nervously, "Er... how much exactly?"

Athenrial looks him over, "Enough to pique our interest." She winks at him before turning back to Garrett, "Provided you can justify your uncle's confidence."

"How did you get to be one of my Uncle's contacts?" Garrett asks curiously.

Athenrial smiles, "Is that what he calls us? He owes us after that last big idea. If you turn out, though, we'll consider things even."

Garrett nods in understanding that his uncle was in debt up to his eyelids to multiple criminal organizations, "I'd like to know more about what we'd be doing for you."

She shrugs, "I can be honest. We don't compete with the thieves guild, but we keep our fingers in a lot of pots. That said, we're not killers or slavers, anything short of that, however, is far game."

Aveline scowls disapprovingly, "Do what you want, but this sounds fishy to me."

Carver turns and adds his two cents, "Begging and taking your pick never went hand in hand."

Bethany smiles, "This seems much more interesting then our other offer, but what would we have to do?"

Athenrial has them step around the corner, "There's a merchant named Cavril. Friend of the templars, so they let him set up his little shop here in the gallows. We supplied him in return for a piece of the take, but now he won't pay up." She paces in frustration, "We can't go near him without him screaming for the guard, but you can. Get our money from him and you're in." She smirks with her deep green eyes at Garrett and he swallows before walking far enough away to speak privately, "I'd rather go with Athenrial than Meeran personally."

Bethany nods, "Same here."

Aveline crosses her arms angrily, "I'm not going to be accessories to theft and smuggling."

Carver shrugs, "I think we're best working with Meeran. He seems pretty awesome."

Aveline nods, "Agreed, about working with Meeran."

Garrett looks at the group, he and his sister against his brother and Aveline. Without any consensus he rubs his head in deep thought before deciding, "We could convince them to take half of us each. Aveline, Carver, go find Friedrich and deal with him for the Red Iron. Bethany and I'll go talk to this Cavril."

Carver sighs, "Mother won't like this."

Bethany folds her arms, "Mother won't care so long as we're alive."

And with one last glance they go their separate ways.

Aveline looks around the corner and into a large alcove to spot a man looking like he's quite well off being guarded by five or six, six men in heavy leather armor. "Carver, I found Friedrich I think." She points to him as Carver looks over.

"Well then lets go get him!" He unsheathes his bastard sword and Aveline hold him back.

"No, lets talk with him first, I need to know what he did to piss Meeran off." Carver reluctantly agrees and they start walking over.

"Have you checked the courtyard again?" Friedrich asks the leader of his bandits.

"He's still out there, but he's alone. And he;s not making a move." The man answers from his spot leaning against the wall.

"I don't trust this! What will we do when the ship comes?" He turns to see Aveline and Carver approaching, "Wait! Who are you? I demand to know what you're doing here!"

Aveline speaks with a no-bullshit voice, "You Friedrich?"

The bandit leader steps off the wall to watch them, "Meeran sent them."

Friedrich turns angrily to him, "I'm not an idiot! I could have figured that out myself!" He narrows his eyes at Aveline, "Look, you... I don't know what that pissant thug is paying you, but I'll double it! Just let us go!"

Aveline places a hand on the hilt of her sword, "I might change my mind if you tell me what you did."

Friedrich scoffs, "Bah! Those fools take everything so personally! So I told Lord Asheral they were coming. It was business!"

Carver shakes his head, "You're more daft then I thought."

He starts to panic now, "I was perfectly willing to give the Red Iron a share, or all of it! I-I can give it to you, as well! Just let me go!" He offers in his desperation.

Aveline thinks for a moment when a thought crosses her mind.

If this man is a noble he might be able to get us into the city.

"Get us into Kirkwall and we leave you be." She orders.

Friedrich stares at them in surprise and anger, "What? I don't have that kind of coin! I'm having trouble leaving the damned city!"

The bandit leader has a better deduction, "So Meeran sent refugees after us?"

This ends Friedrich's patience, "Bah! Stinking dog lords! Kill them and send their bodies back to Meeran!"

Aveline immediately unsheathes her sword and cracks the hilt against a bandit's head to knock them onto their ass as she parries another's dagger for Carver to decapitate him outright. "Form up!" Aveline shouts. Both of them jump to battle back to back in an outlast formation both of them know from serving in the King's army at Ostagar. Aveline cuts down a rogue while Carver kills a flanking warrior trying to hit her with his mace. Another turn, another group of enemies. They fight and battle in this formation for moments that feel like seconds. Friedrich's hired bandits fall easily to their experienced fighting style until only the noble bastard himself is left. Aveline rushes him from the front and holds Wesley's shield up to block the quick slices of Friedrich's blades. "Carver!" Friedrich turns to barely see the huge sharpened bastard sword coming at his head before it chops his head in half all the way down to the collar bones. Carver rips his sword out of Friedrich's beyond dead corpse before starting to loot the bodies for anything useful. Aveline lowers her weapon as she walks over to look at Friedrich's body sadly and mutter, "Stupid, stupid." She sighs at the waste of life before turning to Carver as he walks up.

"I found about seven sovereigns on the bodies, here's your half." He hands her a bloody coin purse.

She takes it with a blank expression, "Thank you Carver, lets get back to Meeran."

Meeran looks over at them as they approach, "You're back? Wait... where's Hawke? And that other girl?" He watches them angrily.

Aveline doesn't blink, "They decided to go a different path, I however an willing to accept you're offer."

Carver agrees, "So am I."

Meeran swears as he paces for a moment, "Those foolish twats!" He sighs as he sees his deal has changed, "The deal was for two mages, one I could work with and I'll assume neither of you are one of those magic users." They shake their heads, "Sorry then, but no." He turns to leave.

Aveline, seeing their option ending, thinks fast. "Wait!" She pulls out her coin purse. "How about we pay an additional installment? Seven sovereigns now and thirteen more over our employment?"

Meeran looks at them and their coin purses before sighing as he rubs his chin, "Well... that does cut a lot of the initial armor costs..." He smiles, "You know how to bargain Red, alright we'll get you two in. Just don't end up forgetting your debt like that worthless uncle of yours." He takes their coin and walks back to stand in the shadows again.

Aveline and Carver turn away and Carver sighs in relief, "Phew, that was close, but now we're in even MORE debt." He states with relative disdain.

Aveline looks at him as they continue walking through the crowds, "At least we get in, we'll figure something out when we settle into the company."

He scoffs in response, "Now I'm wondering if we'll even survive this year." She sighs at her terrible companion's manners.

Meanwhile across the courtyard...

Garrett and Bethany approach Cavril's stand as they notice a woman arguing with him.

"I've already told you. I can't give you anymore for them!" The bald merchant, presumably Cavril, declares to the withered woman in front of him.

She frowns in response, "But that was everything we have! It's all we brought with us!"

Cavril turns away from her and speaks with false empathy, "And I feel for you, serah, but it's the best I can do."

This agitates the woman, "If they just let us into the city, I could get three times that price!"

Cavril sighs as his patience is long exhausted, "Myron?"

An armored man, his face covered, walks up and crosses his arms to intimidate the woman, "Your business is done." He says with finality.

"But..." She sighs in defeat and turns to walk away.

Bethany, seeing how desperate this woman is, reaches into a hidden pocket and pulls out a sovereign, "Wait! Miss?" She turns to look at Bethany as she's hands her the gold coin, "Here, take this."

The woman's face lights up and she hugs Bethany in gratitude. "Thank you! Oh thank you so much! You just fed my family for weeks serah!." She turns and runs off to tell her family the great news.

Garrett sees the light smile on his sister's lips and raises an eyebrow at her, wondering where she got that coin. Bethany picks up on it and shrugs at him, "What? Darien taught me to save money for any worthy causes I might come across. I also found a few coins hidden in the spine of that tome he gave me, 'for emergencies' his note said."

"Now then!" Cavril catches their attention. "What can I do for you, serah?"

Bethany narrows her eyes at the sly merchant as she sees him subtly looking around for a threat. She stops her brother from speaking as she steps forwards, "I've got this." She approaches Cavril as he blinks at her in confusion. She smiles before grabbing the snake by the throat and kicking out his legs. He's forced to his knees as she builds a searing ball of flames in her free hand. "Give us Athenrial's cut or I'll burn you alive." She says sweetly as she looks at the two thugs ready to pounce, "And your men."

Garrett watches in shock as Cavril immediately surrenders, "Stay back!" His men stop and he looks into Bethany's cold blue eyes with such a fright that Garrett thinks he's about to have a heart attack. "Take it! Take it all!" He gives her the chest key and she takes it gladly before smiling and releasing her grip on his throat. He coughs before rushing past his men and sprinting away in fear.

Garrett looks at his sister as she unlocks the chest and takes the coin Athenrial was promised. "Uh..."

She stands, still smiling, and pushes past him, "Come on, that was fun, but lets get back to Athenrial."

Garrett follows her quickly, still having trouble getting used to the new Bethany.

Garrett smiles as they step up to Athenrial's people and Bethany gives her the coin, "You could have given us something more challenging."

Athenrial takes the coin with a smirk, "Will you look at that." Her eyes look up and reach Garrett's and her smirk lifts into a smile, "Tell your uncle we'll make the arrangements." She frowns as she looks at Bethany, "Wait, what happened to that red-head and sword-toting soldier?"

Bethany crosses her arms, "They decided to get in a different way."

"Their loss, interesting." She taps a slender finger against her chin and nods, "Well since there's less baggage, that means less cost." She takes the coin Bethany gave her and hands it back, "Here, take this, I won't need it anymore and for two mages I can't afford to let you run off either." She waves for her people to follow her, "We'll make the arrangements, welcome aboard." She flashes another smile at Garrett before following her people back into the shadows.

He watches her go and blinks as he believes he's missed something important. He shrugs and turns to his sister, "I wonder if Aveline and Carver convinced Meeran to let them on."

She scoffs and turns to walk away, "Probably. They might have to pay a bit up front but I'm sure Friedrich's corpse will have a hefty sum on it."

Garrett cringes at the thought, "Oh, already to looting corpses are they? I'm glad I don't have to do that. I hate blood." Bethany rolls her eyes at her sensitive older brother and takes the lead as they walk back to Gamlen and Leandra to tell them the good news.

Gamlen looks over to see one of his nephews and his niece walking over, "Any luck?" He asks hopefully.

Leandra looks over worriedly when she sees Aveline and Carver not with them, "Whe-?" She catches Aveline's red hair out of the corner of her eye and turns to see her and Carver splattered in blood. "Oh my..."

Garrett and Aveline nod to each other as he explains, "We split up and joined both groups, Bethany and I are with Athenrial and Carver and Aveline went with Meeran."

Gamlen's eye brows shoot up in shock, "They let you in? For both groups? That is surprisingly helpful." He smiles as he sees his debts flying away with his nieces and nephews. "I'll speak with them both and see when the bribes can be made. Wait here." He walks off grinning from ear to ear.

Leandra turns to her little boy and worriedly looks him over, "Carver where did all that blood come from?"

He looks away and Aveline answers, "We had to kill a noble to prove our worth to Meeran."

Leandra holds her head, "Oh Maker, I hope it wasn't a family I know, how horrible!"

Carver sighs, "Worse things have happened mother."

"Oh course, I just don't want any of you to get hurt. Especially after-"

Garrett cuts her off, "Mother, we'll be fine." The group turns to look at Gamlen as he speaks to Meeran and Athenrial directly in the corner.

"I guess we did it." Carver exclaims in surprise. "We're here to stay, at least for a while."

Garrett smirks, "No more running for our lives unless we really have to." Everyone looks at him seriously and he sighs, "Everyone's a critic."

Bethany looks at the ground sadly, "If only Darien could be here with us."

Aveline agrees in her own mourning, "And Wesley." She adds.

Garrett steps to the front of the group and turns, "Well, we're off to a fantastic start. Let's see what else this city has in store." His siblings roll their eyes at him and Leandra shakes her head as Aveline ignores it. He sighs again, "Seriously? Nothing? Not even a small chuckle? Maker you're all going to kill my comedy career."

"Thus began the Champion's first year in Kirkwall. Aveline and Carver began fighting and killing to get by while Garrett and Bethany resorted to theft, smuggling, and trickery to live quite successfully. Their year of hardship would be long and difficult, but rewarding none the less." Varric takes a small break to clear his throat and drink from the glass Cassandra had brought in. He swirls the clear liquid and sighs before deciding to just trust the Seeker's people and drink.

Cassandra taps her fingertips impatiently as he drinks the water slowly, "It isn't poisoned Varric, if I wanted you dead I'd plunge my sword into your skull."

He puts the glass down and scowls at her, "You seriously think I don't know that?" He responds angrily. He shakes it off and clears his throat again, "You have to remember that threatening me won't get you anything but lies." She rolls her eyes and he sits back as he takes a moment to collect his thoughts. The next part was going to take a while to explain and he wanted to make sure he explained it perfectly. Darien's life depends on it.

A/N Ok, if I don't lose anymore time I should have another chapter up by tomorrow morning. Hopefully. :/

Have a great day anyways. :)