The remaining journey to Lake Calenhad had been uneventful.

Theron and Sten were talking about Asala and agreed to look for his sword once again. When we arrived, however, the corpses of his fallen brothers had decayed to nothing but bones, pillaged by a frail looking man.

"He was not there the last time we were here, was he?" I asked Sten as I nudged his arm. Seeing his stoic expression, I realized my question had fallen onto deaf ears as he walked after Theron who was already talking to the pillager.

"You have not seen a sword lying around here, have you?" He asked and the man frowned. "Why, you looking to buy one?"

A wry smirk spread across his lips as Sten approached. "No, but my very large, angry friend here is."

At that, the pillager's face fell and he began rambling. "Ah, is he? Well, you see... I'd like to sell one, but I … don't have any myself. I've got part of a glove the wolves didn't chew too badly, though. Uh… I think it was a glove, anyway."

A moment of silence ensued with Theron staring at him incredulously. The man peered over at the rest of the group cluelessly, before he took the hint to go on with a sigh. "I know, don't say it, I got cheated. I knew the guy who was here before me sell me this spot. Said he found giants and all kinds of crazy valuables. He didn't mention he'd taken everything but the bones and the dirt already."

Sten grunted, shifting restlessly on his feet. His impatience was beginning to show, yet the pillager did not seem all too fazed by it.

"His name's Faryn," he continued. "Squirrely little bastard, if you ask me. Which you didn't but I said it anyway."

Theron's head sank into his palm with a sigh. "And where is he now?" He asked without bothering to meet the man's gaze as he massaged his temples.

"He was going to Orzammar, he said. I imagine he's gotten there by now. If you find him, tell him I sent you! It'll scare the piss out of him!" He replied with a grin before turning away to continue his pillaging, all the while laughing to himself.

At a loss of words, Theron simply shook his head. "This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself before raising his head to face Sten. "I'm sorry, but your sword has to wait until we get to Orzammar," he apologized to which the qunari let out a simple grunt. "I did not expect to find it here, anyway."

"Don't worry, Sten. We'll find it," I spoke, gently squeezing his hand. "We'll see," came his unimpressed reply.

"Is it just me or has dusk settled a bit too early?" Alistair wondered to which we all just shrugged.

Theron, being already a few feet ahead of us, was able to provide an answer, though. "There are too many clouds for the sun to shine through."

"Or perhaps it's the mages' work to scare off intruders," Zevran added jokingly, gesturing towards the tower in the distance which we were able to see clearly now.

My eyes grew wide as I caught sight of the gigantic tower upon a lone island, my suspicions confirmed. This was the Circle? It was nothing more than a prison, after all.
Dread was already filling my bones upon the thought of my son spending the rest of his entire life there. Subconsciously, I shook my head in both disbelief and disappointment, bringing a hand to my gaping mouth.

"Now the poor woman is shocked for life," Morrigan commented nonchalantly, having noticed my reaction. " 'Tis a shame, truly. I would have wished another fate for the boy."

At that, the party's heads jerked around to watch me, just in time as I regained my composure.
My gaze shifted onto the ground, so as to not meet Theron's gaze, or anyone else's. I did not need pity. What I needed was to see my son immediately.

"I'm sure it will look much better on the inside." Despite all her efforts of encouragement, none of Leliana's words were able to affect me.

"We'll see," came my reply with a frown, before I set off to follow Theron down the path to the docks.

I had grown impatient and eager to get to the tower and the templar stationed by the ferry made my restlessness no easier to contain.
He went on and on, bickering with Theron about how he did not believe him to be a Grey Warden and that he hadn't had a meal in ages, until I snapped.

With a resounding slap, my hand connected with his cheek.

"You will get us to the tower at once, or Maker help me, your meal will not be the only thing you'll be missing tonight," I drawled with my dagger drawn.

His face drained of all colour, he stared at me in shock, holding his hand over his cheek. It took him a while to realize my intent as his eyes shifted from my dagger to his crotch and he gulped.

"Alright, alright, I- I will take you to the tower," he stammered with his hands raised defensively, his arms shaking. Without another word, he then swiftly turned around to prepare the ferry.

"To think a woman would be more intimidating than the presence of a qunari…" Alistair trailed off with a grin, amused by the templar's reaction.

"Women can be all kinds of crazy," Zevran added with a shrug, to which Leliana sighed. "Let's just get on with this."

"Judging by the boat's size, it will be impossible for us to go over all at once," Theron spoke, his gaze shifting in between each member of the group. "Which is why I'm taking Liona, Morrigan and Sten with me. Alistair, you and the others investigate in the tavern. See if you can find some clues regarding Genitivi. And Tamlen…"

"Speaking of whom, where is he?" I asked upon noticing the dog's absence. Confused, the group looked around the place, calling for him until Theron sighed. "Calm down, everyone, he's just taking a piss."