Note: Okay, I think this chapter nearly killed my brain. But it's done! It's in the books and here endth Act Two.

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Thank you for reading.

Dragon Age
"The Relic"

Chapter Twenty Five: Sebastian

Sebastian had two daughters; Meghan and Agnus. Meghan was his oldest at nearly 16 and his named heir. She was like him, had his eyes but looked like her mother, and she was also a gifted archer just like he was. Agnus was 11 years old and decidedly not like him. She looked like Evelyn and was the more mild of the two.

Agnus sat in front of him in the saddle since she'd much rather ride this way on Silver then on her own horse. Agnus wasn't the best equestrian but Sebastian was happy to spend any amount of time with his youngest daughter. He believed that his children should have a means to defend themselves and thus far had them both training or trained in archery. Meghan embraced it but Agnus was barely interested. She was more interested in books and legends then she was in combat and horseback riding.

One of his guards followed leading her horse. "Can we go home now?" she asked and Sebastian looked down at her with a slight smile.

"You need to take your nose out of those books on occasion, my dear," he replied.

She disagreed. "But why out here? I'm not good with the bow," she complained.

"Some form of combat or defense is a valuable tool, Agnus, your mother is proficient with sword and bow, as is your sister, the bow is a smart person's weapon-…"

"Because you can defend your Keep without opening the gates," she finished in an imitating tone. "Yes, Dad, I know."

Sebastian chuckled. She'd clearly heard the speech before.

"When's Balian coming back?"

Sebastian paused before answering. Meghan had been grumpy since he left and Agnus teased her sister incessantly about it. "I don't think he is coming back. I'm sorry."

Agnus braided a chunk of Silver's mane as they walked down the wooded path and into the clearing. "Why'd he leave? The way Meghan talks about it you'd think he betrayed us all."

Sebastian couldn't say he didn't miss his friend. Balian had been around for so long it was weird to have him gone. He snorted to the reaction of his eldest. Meghan was angry with Balian when had left, the girl'd had a crush on the Elf for a long time. "He left for love." Too many 'what ifs' invaded his mind and his mind circled back to his death. He still hadn't dealt with that completely. It was the biggest reason for him wanting to spend a lot of time with his family.

Something hit his chest hard enough to spook Silver making the stallion jump. Between Silver's surprised hop and the force of the impact he came off over Silver's rump and down onto the trail. Agnus came with him and when he looked down while trying to protect her he saw an arrow. "NO!" he shouted. He tried to move her off him but the arrow had gone through her and into him. It penetrated his leathers but not the chainmail underneath. He managed to free himself and laid her down assessing the wounds. Sebastian was generally a very level headed man, it was a good quality in him but right now it was nothing short of panic.

"No! Agnus!" The arrow was a war arrow. Big and designed to kill man and beast in armor, fired off a longbow it was the deadliest arrow an archer could use. His guards were in frenzy, he heard shouting as someone spied the archer and gave chase. "Agnus!" The huge arrow had gone directly through her heart and killed the little girl instantly. "No!" he roared. The panic was replaced by overwhelming grief and then by absolute rage. Whoever fired that arrow had to be still within striking distance…very long striking distance. "Madrigal!"

"My Lord, there!" Madrigal indicated pointing to the figure that was on a black horse moving further away. His bodyguard was still mounted and calm…for the most part.

Sebastian's anger blinded him. Someone just killed his daughter, his little girl. He moved with purpose to Silver, and took up his ancestral bow, his grandfather's bow. The Starkhaven Longbow.

Sebastian's bow was a warbow almost the same height as him and had a nearly 100 pound draw giving it the ability to kill a man, even at a significant range, and that was before the enchantments. He pulled a heavy arrow from the quiver and nocked the quarter pound broadhead. When he drew he sighted his target then aimed upward in a high arch to let physics and gravity carry the war arrow to its destination. Sebastian's back muscles engaged as he drew the heavy bow to full, he exhaled and released in a quick but smooth motion. The broadhead launched from the longbow with only a faint whistle.

There was no greater archer in Thedas then Sebastian Vael, Seeker Ashton Reyne liked to think he could outshoot the Prince but that wasn't the case. Sebastian could count on one hand how many times he missed when it counted and as soon as he released the black fletched arrow he knew it would land where he wanted it. The arrow followed the trajectory like it was on a line and from the distance he saw it find its target. The archer crumpled to the ground off the black horse and Sebastian turned to his guards.

"Go!" he ordered with a roar and they took off at a gallop.

Sebastian turned to Agnus. Madrigal looked at him absolutely horrified. She dismounted not knowing what to do. The little girl was dead.

Dorian could teach a class on how to sulk. He'd been sulking for a week or so after the news that Jean did exactly what Dorian dreaded. He went ballistic for a good hour or so but eventually calmed down and settled into a bout of sulking that made everyone laugh. His sulking was interrupted by the tragic news from Val Royeaux a week or so later, Gaspard was dead. Khrys took that hard, she'd bonded with the Emperor and he'd become such a great ally and friend to her. The full extent of her relationship with Gaspard de Chalons was known only to Khrys and Gaspard, no one had expected them to be so close or to see eye to eye on nearly everything but they had. She led the Inquisition and supported Orlais unconditionally as Gaspard always had for her. Losing him hurt her deeply.

When she'd received that news she cried and wished Michel was with her but also thanked the fact that her lover was near her daughter. If anyone could protect her it was him. She still wished for his comfort. News of her daughter's engagement was overshadowed, unlike Dorian, she was pleased with the match.

"Another letter from Michel?" Dorian asked with a smirk as he poured a glass of wine. "Is it at least a naughty letter?"

Khrys wished it was to be honest, it seemed like moments after she came back from months on the road he was now gone. "No," she replied and Dorian scoffed.

His smirk grew, Michel may have seemed like the prim and proper Orlesian, but like any man, time away from a lover took its toll. "Really?"

Michel was more action then he was talk. "He'll wait until he comes back," she replied with a flirtatious grin. "Orlesian men know what a tongue is for."

Dorian choked on the wine and looked down at her. "Had to wait until I took a drink?" he acused. Khrys smiled and cracked open the seal on a letter from Starkhaven, a smaller letter addressed to Balian was within. "You should marry him."

Khrys' eyes only flicked to him for a moment then she returned to the letter. "This is for Bail," she said passing it to him knowing he would see him before she did.

Ignoring his comment was normal. Despite his feelings toward him, Michel was good to her. "What does the Holy Prince have to say this time?" Dorian inquired. "Seeing as how his last letter spawned so much fun."

As she read the letter he watched her face fall, something on the page was very bad news. "What?" he asked. "What's wrong?" She couldn't bring herself to read it out loud and passed it to him, so much bad news lately…nothing but bad news. Dorian read it quickly and his expression mirrored hers. "I need to tell Balian."

A brand new chest plate had been finished and delivered to Balian, now he had all his armor on the stand in their quarters. He examined it, fitted it, and examined it further. Skyhold's armorer rivaled Master Wade from Denerim and Dagna was better than any arcanist he'd ever met. The silverite was molded perfectly but it was the mail and jerkin that was going to take some time to fit like the old one. He heard Dorian enter as he adjusted a buckle but didn't turn.

"Balian," Dorian began and only received a distracted grunt from his lover. "Balian, something's happened in Starkhaven." He knew exactly how Balian was going to take this…poorly. It was only the magnitude he questioned.

At that he turned and gave him a curious look taking the offered letter from him. He opened it and saw only a single sentence written in Sebastian's hand. "Agnus is dead and I need you, Brother."

Balian didn't sleep at all, he packed. He packed up his belongings and made sure his armor was ready on the stand. Dorian didn't even try to stop him but he knew that the dream of having Balian in Skyhold just ended. He was going back to Starkhaven and more than likely going to stay there.

The sun hadn't even come up yet and Balian was in the stables preparing Biscuit for his return to Starkhaven. The letter addressed to him was vague. The letter addressed to Khrys gave more detail. An assassin killed Agnus, by accident or not. He should never have left Starkhaven.

"Balian," Thom said from Biscuit's stall door. "Khrys wanted to see you."

Balian patted his horse's neck. "Can you finish for me? Long trip to Starkhaven." Thom nodded.

All Khrys ever wanted was to have at least some semblance of peace and quiet. If it wasn't one thing it was another. Sebastian was an ally and a friend, the idea that his youngest child had been assassinated made her stomach turn. She couldn't imagine that.

"Charter, I want you to send a hundred messages to Alistair. Do not stop until you get a response. Tell him to be prepared for something to happen. They're hitting the powers of Thedas, we already lost Gaspard and hopefully Jean can keep it together. We can't lose Alistair or Lydia."

The spymaster nodded, she was already in the process of doing just that and contacting other allies and spies across Thedas. "Blackwings are already on the way. Additional communication from Starkhaven says their assassin is alive…possible we can get more information from them."

Khrys' attention turned to the others that were there. "Zevran, interested in going to Starkhaven and interrogating one of your kind?" Khrys asked and the Elf gave a snort.

Zevran was far from offended. Assassins were supposed to be the best of their trade and were paid to be precise. This one killed a little girl. "It would be my genuine pleasure, sweet Khrystabel."

Dorian rolled his eyes. Part of him liked Zevran and part of him wanted to punch him, once for himself and once for Michel.

"I'll go too," Tess added and Zevran gave her a strange look but said nothing. Given the relationship with Sebastian he didn't understand why she'd go willing to Starkhaven.

Khrys was fine with that but someone else needed to go as well, someone who could get as much information from an unwilling target as possible. "Take Cole too."

When Balian joined them he looked like he was already ready to travel. Dorian wasn't surprised but he also didn't look happy about it. Balian going back to Starkhaven could be permanent, especially with everything that had happened to Sebastian after the Elf left.

"Can I assume you're going to Starkhaven for a while?" Khrys asked her clansman and the Elf nodded quietly. She saw his simmering anger barely beneath his calm veneer. "Take Tess, Cole, and Zevran with you." Balian's eyes flicked to those she wanted, or had volunteered, to go. Zevran was the one he was unsure about but again he gave a quiet nod. "And I don't want to sound crass but make sure Sebastian doesn't do anything stupid in response to this."

Balian's head cocked slightly, a sign Dorian knew well, he was offended. " 'Stupid in response to this'? You mean in response to his youngest child being murdered in front of him?"

Khrys returned his look. "Balian, that's not what I meant and you know it," she said sternly. "He can't attack Tevinter on his own."

Dorian had to agree. "She's right, Amatus. They'll respond and they'll run right over him and that is exactly what Prisca and Artus want." Balian was annoyed and Dorian could see it. "Remember. They want to provoke someone into attacking Tevinter directly so the Archon will declare war."

Balian understood and nodded although he wanted to snap at both of them but he knew Sebastian too well to think that he'd just sit by and let anyone get away with this. "I understand," he replied curtly and then addressed his apparent travelling companions. "We leave at dawn."

"It's going to be hell getting down the mountain," Cullen put in as he finally joined them. "It's been snowing all night. If anyone wants off the mountain for the winter I'd suggest leaving with Ser Balian."

"Bail, stop," Balian had a singular focus that worried Dorian. When he was angry he simmered quietly…it was not a good sign. "I know you're angry and I know I can't stop you from leaving but please be careful, Amatus."

Balian had no intention of daring Falon'Din for a third time. "I'll be careful," he told him, placing his right hand on Dorian's cheek. "I love you."

Cullen had been right. It was a bitch getting off the mountain. This time of the year whoever was in Skyhold typically stayed there until the passes opened back up in spring. The snow was nearly chest deep on the horses and that was with engineers trying to maintain it as long as possible. The snow was still falling when they finally got down to Herald's but Balian didn't want to stay and shake the snow off. He wanted to get to Starkhaven quickly so they pressed on to the road to Jader.

Just because they were off the mountain didn't mean they were out of the cold. The valley was colder, channeling the wind. Zevran bitched up a storm and Balian really couldn't blame him. Tess and Cole said nothing and after a while everyone turtled up into their coats and cloaks and shuffled out of the valley. The road to Jader was clear and well-travelled, normally, now it had a foot of snow on it from an early winter storm.

Starkhaven mourned, bells rang as per their custom and vigils were held. The people loved their sovereign and were devastated by the vile act. The mood of the palace was a somber as they came and Sebastian processed his grief in the appropriate stages…and sometimes all at once.

The assassin was an unassuming man, despite his crime he hadn't been touched and had actually been treated. Sebastian was a pious man and the Chantry dictated that he treat his enemies with mercy. The broadhead had struck him high in the back on the right side, it caused significant pain but the healers were able to remove it and pack the wound. He hadn't been treated any better or worse and was now chained to a wall.

Now face to face with the man who murdered his daughter his sense of charity and mercy was dissipating rapidly. It was when he locked eyes with the man that his control broke. "My daughter was 11," Sebastian growled. "And you murdered her!" His hands were around his throat and squeezing tighter and tighter. "She was innocent!"

"Sire." Madrigal said simply trying to stop him from going too far. The Prince was slowly choking the life from him and they hadn't gotten any information yet. It was almost like Sebastian hadn't heard her, he did hear her, he just wanted to kill him. "Sebastian," she said again and the Prince released him but it took all he could to do it.

He wasn't a killer. He'd killed but never out of pure rage or malice. He killed to retake his home and avenge his family, personally executed the Duke of Wycome, and watched as Balian killed the Duke of Markham in his name, he'd wanted to kill Anders in the worst way, but this was the first time he wanted to tear someone apart. He wasn't a killer and he remembered that.

For Balian, seeing Starkhaven in the distance was a homecoming. He loved the city and its people. The first time he saw it was when he returned with Sebastian after championing for him in Ostwick, it was beautiful then and it was beautiful now. As they drew closer to the Free Marches largest city peasants recognized him and bowed. He wasn't a lord or nobility but he was Ser Balian the Champion of Starkhaven. No one stopped them or hassled them, all they needed to see was the big cream colored horse ridden by the Elf in silverite still bearing the Vael family crest.

"I can't tell if they love you or fear you," Zevran commented as he observed them all.

There was a simple answer. "Kirkwall fears me. Starkhaven does not." Starkhaven had nothing to fear from him unless they intended the Vael family harm, Kirkwall, on the other hand, feared him plenty. All the times he rode into that city under a Starkhaven banner was because he was ordered to do so and when Sebastian sent him it was never a delightful outcome for Kirkwall.

The city itself was strategically positioned in such a way they used the Minanter River as a moat. Modeled after Minrathous, the city occupied an island that the river flowed around with the only entry point being an enormous draw bridge. The city was ringed by a high curtain wall, and then an inner wall, with the palace at the center above the rest for the city ringed with another wall. Tess, Cole, and Zevran followed Balian as he entered the city with absolutely no fuss, the guards saluted when he passed and people got out of the way. They rode up the main road which split the island down the middle and gently inclined the whole way.

Zevran had flashbacks to roaming around Minrathous. The lower ring was the poorest section with working class taverns, homes, and shops. The middle ring was upper class like Hightown in Kirkwall. The city was made of marble, gold, and polished granite. "What does Varric call this place?" Zevran asked.

"Pretentious," Tess answered seeing Balian cock his head back slightly at the insult. He didn't respond…the fact of the matter was that Starkhaven was the safest city in all the Free Marches. Tess had never been to Starkhaven, oh Anders would be turning in his grave right now.

The last gate they approached was heavily guarded and closed but opened when the guards saw Balian approach. "Ser Balian," a guard greeted at the gate. "The prodigal bodyguard returns."

This was the Captain of the Guard. He was a blonde, handsome man, who really didn't like Elves. "I was recalled, Loomis," he replied simply as the Guard Captain looked to the rest of the group. One had a cowl up and had blades on his back and a quiver and a bow tied to the horse. Another rogue was in the back looking as forgettable as ever and then there was a woman, definitely a mage. "Who are they?"

Balian urged Biscuit one and into the palace's lower courtyard. "Not your concern." He wasn't in the mood to practice his patience with Loomis.

"Leave them be, Loomis." A girl's voice ordered with all the authority of someone older than 16. Loomis bowed to her.

"As you command, Lady Meghan," Loomis replied and returned to his post.

Balian dismounted and stable hands fluttered in to take all the horses to the stables. He sighed heavily, he was not looking forward to facing those he believed that he'd failed or at the very least abandoned.

"Ser Balian's return," Meghan said with her quiet tone of contempt. The same tone Sebastian used when he was mad. Meghan didn't scream and yell when she was mad, she just got quiet…just like her father. "You should have been here." More contempt.

He agreed. "I know," he replied and looked at the ground. His pride was no match for his misplaced guilt. "I'm sorry, Meg." The heiress stepped toward him and hugged him. She hadn't cried yet, of that he was certain. She never cried, not even when he had to retrieve her from her kidnappers. She killed two men that night and she never cried. She was family to him. After a moment she let him go and looked over the rest of his party. "Tess, Cole, Zevran, this is Lady Meghan."

Zevran still had the cowl up but gave his signature bow as Cole and Tess nodded to the girl. Quite frankly, Meghan wasn't interested in his entourage and practically ignored them.

The Starkhaven palace was a baby compared to Val Royeaux, Fort Drakon, and Skyhold but it was grand. The smooth, marble, gold, and granite had a darker tone than that of Val Royeaux giving it a more ominous feel. Tapestries of red and black decorated the palace, colors of the Vael family and of Starkhaven.

"Balian," a very familiar voice said drawing his attention to the top of a set of steps. It was Evelyn Vael, Princess of Starkhaven. Despite the situation, and what he was certain was a rough few weeks, she looked amazing. Evelyn was always beautiful but he could see the sadness, her kind eyes were full of sorrow and it killed him to see it.

"My Lady," Balian bowed when he saw her. "I'm sorry." She disregarded his bow and hugged him. "Where is he?"

Having Balian back felt right and she was comforted just by his presence. "The Chantry," she answered holding him tight for a few lingering moments. The palace didn't seem the same without him.

Balian could have guessed that and stepped back from the Princess. "Evelyn, this is Zevran, Cole, and Tess," he introduced quickly. "The Inquisitor sent them to help."

She nodded zeroing in on Tess, the woman Sebastian had had a crush on in Kirkwall, the woman who married his nemesis. Evelyn had always been good at setting her feelings aside but having Anders' wife in Starkhaven just seemed wrong. "I'll have the servants prepare rooms for you all. Thank you for coming."

Sebastian wasn't praying, not at the moment, he was sitting quietly in the Chantry just lost in his own thoughts. He'd buried his daughter a week ago and just couldn't let any of it go. What happened against Solas shook his faith, what happened to his daughter practically destroyed it.

"Sebastian?" a voice said breaking the silence.

He turned and found his loyal friend, he'd answered his call. Sebastian tried not to blame anyone of this staff. It was tough to blame Madrigal although she blamed herself. She was his bodyguard and managed to let someone kill her sovereign's daughter. With the exception of Meghan's kidnapping no one came close to threatening his family. The Elf sat down next to him. "You came."

The Vaels' were his family so losing Agnus hurt him deeply. "Of course I did. I am so sorry…," he found he'd been saying that a lot to the family. "I should have been here. I should never have left."

Sebastian wasn't going to argue that in anyway. "I've been here all night…do you know what I've been thinking of?" he asked. "The same thing I have been thinking of for the past two weeks…how many ways I can kill that man in the dungeon."

Sebastian wasn't a killer. He killed when he had to but he wasn't what his detractors made him out to be. "I'll do it for you," Balian volunteered.

He missed talking to Balian, hearing his perspective, or just being there to vent to. So much had happened, so much that he knew Balian blamed himself. "I died," he said after a moment of silence. "Malcolm brought me back… but I died and I saw nothing, no light, no Maker, not even Andraste…Agnus was the price," the Prince said and Balian shook his head.

He's never seen Sebastian so shaken…never seen him unsure of his faith. "None of this was your fault. None of this, Brother," he insisted putting a hand on his shoulder. "And I promise you, Evelyn, and Meghan that in Agnus' name I will kill every last one of them."

It was more comforting to here than Balian realized and Sebastian gave him a nod. "You have a plan?"

Balian smiled. He's been thinking about this the whole way, Cole would be extremely helpful in interrogating the assassin but Zevran would be invaluable. "I brought along the best person to dismantle an assassins guild." Who better than the man who single-handedly took the Antivan Crows apart?

Sebastian cocked his head slightly unsure of his meaning.

The first night spent in Starkhaven was a quiet one. Most were tired and the mood of the palace was as depressing as they came. As tired as Balian was he didn't sleep, he tried but he wound up staring at the ceiling so he roamed the palace. There was something he needed to do.

Tess wasn't asleep either, her chambers were warm and comfortable but she couldn't help the feeling that she shouldn't be here. In Kirkwall she'd enjoyed Sebastian's company but gravitated to Anders, she loved Anders deeply and the idea of being here felt wrong.

The palace was quiet, depressing actually, it was hard not to be, the loss of a child could cast a dark shadow over anything. She wandered and found that she wasn't the only one not sleeping. If she was Sebastian she wouldn't be sleeping either. It hurt to have Anders gone.

"I'm sorry" she said quietly and Sebastian stood.

"Tess," Sebastian greeted and had strongly mixed feelings upon seeing her. He'd heard about what happened to Anders and admittedly felt a pang of sorrow. Anders, crazy as he was, wasn't a bad man…he'd just made some questionable choices. His son was the true gem. He owed Malcolm everything but Tess…Tess was someone he once had very strong feelings for and lost her to Anders.

"Sebastian," she acknowledged in kind. "I'm sorry about your little girl."

The Prince swallowed hard and couldn't find the right thing to say, anything he said about Anders could be construed as a lie. "I…"

"You don't have to say it," she cut him off. "I know you're not sorry to hear he's gone."

Sebastian straightened. "I may not have liked him, Tess, but I care for you. I know how much you loved him and no one deserves to have that happen to a loved one," he told her. "Drink?"

She accepted his offer and stayed. "Apparently no one in this palace sleeps."

Sebastian grunted as he passed her a glass of the wine. "No one sleeps anymore," he admitted quietly. He certainly hadn't, not in a long while. "To those we've lost," he toasted.

The crypt was never somewhere Balian liked to be, the reason he was there was something he liked even less. He didn't like graveyards, burial grounds, or crypts but he paid his respects to the girl who learned Elvish from him. His bond was stronger with Meghan but Agnus always wanted to learn of the Elves and he was happy to share. There in the Vael family crypt he found the little girl's vault. The plaque on the wall freshly chiseled. 'Agnus Elthina Vael, daughter of Sebastian and Evelyn' He wished he could have been there. He cursed himself for not being there to do his duty. He let out a deep sad sigh as he put a hand on the epitaph.

"Sun sets, little one, time to dream. Your mind journeys, but I will hold you here. Where will you go, little one, lost to me in sleep? Seek truth in a forgotten land deep within your heart. Never fear, little one, wherever you shall go. Follow my voice- I will call you home. I will call you home."

"Mir Da'len Somniar," Evelyn said suddenly from behind him. "She loved that song…ever since you taught it to her."

"They both love it."

"She was so fascinated by you," she continued. "Uncle Balian…always asked why she wasn't an Elf."

He chuckled as she did, Agnus drew on her face when she was younger trying to copy his vallaslin. "Merciful Falon'Din, shepherd the soul of this little one to safety. Allow her to know more peace in death than she knew in life," Evelyn was silent as she let him pray. The girls weren't the only ones who he taught Elvish to. He placed the small wooden figurine he'd been whittling since Skyhold on the ledge below her epitaph. The figurine was an owl with spread wings, Falon'Din.

"Thank you, Balian," Evelyn said and patted his arm. "They are as much your children as they are ours." Her words felt both refreshing and horrifying.

There was still no sleep to be had for Balian and when he left the crypt he wandered the palace. Evelyn's words nearly haunted him. It wasn't like he hadn't heard it before. He protected those children like they were his own. Dalish tended to raise children communally and no matter how long he'd spent in Starkhaven he was Dalish first. If Evelyn's words were to be taken literally he failed as a guardian, he'd lost a child.

The morning brought a little bit of a better mood, not quite as somber but the cloud of Agnus' death remained. With Balian back, things went back to normal. He wasn't there a day and he'd assumed his position once again. Right now he was looking at Madrigal trying to make any questions he had not sound like an outright attack. The assassin struck from a distance outside the gates…difficult for anyone to guard against. He'd trained Madrigal; she was the person he'd always intended to take over if something were to happen. She was as tall as he was, had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and did not at all look like a warrior. But a warrior she was, proficient in nearly all forms of combat. She didn't know what to say to him, he recommended her for the position and she couldn't help but think she'd failed.

"I-…" she began and he cut her off before she finished.

"Don't apologize, Madi," he said firmly, a tone that she was very familiar with. "If you'd have let a man through with a knife I'd have your head on a pike already." He really wanted to demand where she was when Sebastian encountered Solas. For that grievous error he did want her head on a pike but he'd deal with that later.

The woman blinked to his response and believed every word. "I…"

"I said do not apologize," he cut her off again. "I will assume my previous role. I want an update on everything in the palace, watches and guard strength," he ordered quietly then sighed heavily. "And bring me Captain Loomis."

"Yes, Ser," she nodded and turned away leaving him there in his haunt.

Loomis was probably the only one in Starkhaven that wasn't happy with Balian's return. It wasn't that he didn't respect him, he just wasn't a fan of Elves and Balian was a favorite. He was the favorite and enjoyed ordering everyone around. Loomis respected his drive to ensure the family's safety but he was a pain in the ass when something wasn't right.

"Well, you've settled back in," Loomis commented, having been summoned his study. This was where he held his brief meetings to coordinate the personal guard. Loomis was the Captain of the Palace Guard so he regularly attended, reluctantly.

Balian didn't reply and simply handed him the paper he'd been writing. Loomis read it quickly and sighed. "My men are already distributed in a way that works."

"Change it up," he ordered. "Everything else is the same."

"Lavellan…I know you're angry about not being here and I understand that but what happened didn't occur in the palace. Why change up my guards?"

His answer was simple. "Because I said so," he told him. "Don't feel singled out I've changed up the city guard too."

"Terrific," he replied sarcastically. "Anything else, your Lordship?"

He wasn't a lord but the incorrect address didn't bother him. Loomis was annoyed and this was how he showed it since he wasn't allowed to act out against him. "No, Gareth, that'll be all."

"So good to have you back, Balian the Bear," he griped. Loomis gave an exaggerated bow and left. As Loomis turned he found Meghan and conducted a proper bow to her. "Lady Meghan."

Balian stood when he saw her but she waved him off. She was dressed in riding leathers although Balian was absolutely certain no one would let her out of the city after what happened with Agnus. "You look tired," she said and as soon as she said that the fact he hadn't slept in almost two days hit him all at once.

"That's because I am tired," he sighed and sat back down.

"You should sleep. You'll be no good to father exhausted."

"Wise words," he agreed. "Meghan, I'm sorry that I wasn't here. I'm sorry I wasn't with your father or with Agnus." Meghan listened. She owed Balian everything. He'd saved her life and taught her to defend herself. She loved him. "How are you?"

Meghan bottled her feelings up, just like he did but she didn't always. He noticed it after he retrieved her from Nevarra. "Fine," she replied with a manufactured smile that he didn't believe.

"Meghan."

Balian was the one that she couldn't lie to but wasn't in the mood to voice her feelings. "What's done is done. My feelings aren't going to change it." It sounded callous but he expected that from her.

"You know you can always talk to me. I'm not leaving again," he assured her and she gave a half smile he knew was real.

"What about Dorian?" she asked and now it was his turn to decide he was uncomfortable. He didn't want to fight with Dorian and didn't want to leave him either.

"New topic," he said changing the subject and stood. She observed him as he produced something wrapped in leather, a plain but elegant sword. "I have a gift for you. Skyhold has the best weaponsmith in Thedas…and arcanist. I was going to send you this but…"

Meghan took the weapon and gave a genuinely happy smile. The sword looked a bit like Balian's but it was missing the spikes. The crossguard was tooled with knot pattern common to Starkhaven, the blade was a strange green color. "What is it made from?"

"Veil Quartz," he answered. "Probably one of the rarest metals in the world, Skyhold has a stock of it."

Meghan was in awe, the sword was beautiful. "This must have cost a fortune."

In truth it didn't cost him anything, he was Khrys' cousin and Dorian's lover. All he did was ask. "It's a gift, Da'len."

"Thank you, Balian," she said and he heard her voice crack. The closest she'd get to crying in front of someone. Whether it was because of the gift or the fact that her sister was dead he didn't know or care. "I want to go for a ride."

"Not yet."

"Will you let me know when?" she asked and he nodded.

Zevran poked through the belongings of the assassin and found much of the same thing that he found with the Skyhold assassin and the description of the things the Orlesian one had. He didn't find anything serpentstone this time but found a truly magnificent longbow finely crafted and runed up and down the limbs.

He whistled. "I think I'll keep it," he hummed and heard Tess snort.

She considered Zevran a friend, a very close friend. She trusted her son to him and since Anders' death he'd been a true friend. Someone to talk to, and contrary to his reputation, had been a perfect gentleman. "Thought you favored short bows?" she asked as she leaned on the wall with her arms folded across her chest.

Zevran grinned as he tested the draw. It was heavy, very heavy even for a war bow. "I favor anything that gets the job done, Dear Champion," he replied. "All depends on the contract and the situation. May have to use it to fulfill my impossible contract," he muttered.

Tess knew of the contract from Lydia, it was suicide for Zevran to try to complete it considering he didn't know Solas. Tess knew Solas, not as well as Khrys, but she'd never encountered a mage anything like him. Zevran would get himself killed trying to fulfill the contract. "Tell the Warden-Queen 'no' to killing Solas…you'll get yourself killed." She didn't want anything to happen to Zevran, her list of friends was shrinking.

Zevran gave her a smile. He relished having so many women concerned for his safety. "I've never turned her down yet and I've never failed a contract she's given me."

"Because you're in love with her."

That was true but he didn't admit it out loud to many people. "Jealous?" he smirked.

Tess returned his smirk. "Hardly. You're not as irresistible as you think, Arainai."

He chuckled softly in response to that. "And yet you are here with me, bella."

"Zev."

"Sorry."

"Learn anything?" Sebastian asked as he appeared with Balian.

Zevran bowed respectfully to the Prince who simply waved him off. "Same as before, My Lord, no missives, no orders…equipment is the same though." Zevran commented. "And this is Quiet Death." He said holding up a vial of what was apparently poison. "As painful as it is to hear, Prince, your daughter felt no pain."

That didn't make him feel any better about the situation, the large arrow tore through her heart…she died instantly anyway. He blinked and looked at the floor briefly trying to shake the image. Tess understood the need to look away and attempt to get a handle on the moment. "Anything else?" he asked finally. Sebastian was still one of the strongest men that Tess knew, he was a pain in the ass and devout in his beliefs, but because of that he was physically and mentally strong.

"Not yet," the Elf answered. "I'll know more after I talk to him."

"What do you intend to get out of him?" Balian asked as Zevran pulled one of the war arrows from the quiver on the table and fiddled with it.

"Whatever I can. There has to be more than one and I suspect you know that," he answered testing the tip of the bodkin carefully.

Balian nodded. "We've gotten nothing from him and I won't torture the man as Orlais did," Sebastian said, as much as he wanted that man to die he wasn't going to stoop to the level of torture Jean-Fredric employed.

"Orlais tore that poor bastard apart…tortured him to get him to talk…but I have Cole."

The Starkhaven dungeon was probably the nicest one that Zevran had seen. It was dryer and better ventilated making it seem like it was in better condition. It was still a prison like anything else and included all the things one would expect; a wheel, a rack, hanging cages, and probably more than that. Even Skyhold had a torture chamber but the worst dungeon Zevran had ever been in was Rendon Howe's. It took months to purge that stench from his nose and he still hadn't forgotten what he'd seen.

The assassin had the element of clam that Zevran had expected, it was the training. The good assassin guilds spent years training their members. Zevran had been in training since he was 7 and the Antivan Crows were the best, he was tortured and beaten like all the rest and to this day never broke to torture. The Black Hand was a fine guild but they were mainly Mage Hunters, he would get what he wanted from him…it was only a matter of time.

The assassin appeared very calm for someone in their position. That was about to change but it gave Zevran a sense of the man. He was young, strong, had sandy brown hair, blue eyes, and was otherwise forgettable.

"Well," Zevran began as the assassin eyed him in return, "you are in a very unenviable situation. Assassins are paid for precision. You failed miserably in that regard. Now Starkhaven may be a bit more lenient than Orlais in their punishment but have no illusions about it…you will die. Your only choice now is how useful you wish to be."

"Spare me," The assassin replied sounding unimpressed.

Zevran allowed a smile to his defiance. "Do you know who I am?"

The blonde Elf with the signature tattoo on the left side of his face, most assassins had at least heard of him, Zevran brought down the best assassins guild in the known world very nearly single-handedly. "Zevran Arainai," he answered. "The Black Shadow. Traitor."

The Elf grinned. "Ahh yes." He enjoyed all things he was called. "I especially like that last one, but enough about me. I know you failed in your mission but I also know that you are not the only one of your kind to fill that contract. Who is it?"

"You think I'll tell you?"

"You murdered a child with your incompetence," Zevran said, voice dripping with disdain, "For that alone I would happily tear you limb from limb as Emperor Jean-Fredric did to your counterpart."

"You didn't mean to kill the child." A voice suddenly said from the far corner of the room. The prisoner jumped, startled by the voice from nowhere. He could have sworn that Zevran was the only person who'd entered the cell. Zevran looked at Cole. "The shot was true. Strong gust of wind dropped the arrow too low."

The assassin was confused. "What! Who…"

"It would take far too long to explain," Zevran replied flatly. "Answer my question."

"No."

Zevran sneered. "You caused this. You were foolish enough to try to kill your target from such a distance without the skill to accomplish it. Tell me what you know."

"The Tevinter Imperium will rise to the pinnacle again." The assassin spat back.

Zevran growled and snatched the throat of the assassin with his left hand. "Then it will fall once again. But you will not live to see either. I know there are more of you. What is the plan? Where are they?"

"If you're going to kill me just do it," he managed under Zevran's strong grip.

Zevran released him and took a step back with an unsettling grin. "I'm not going to kill you, not yet. The rack!" he called and the heavy wooden door opened with an ominous sound.

Since she couldn't ride freely Meghan was stuck with riding in the paddock. She copied the generals, watched them work their warhorses. If she was to rule she would take after her father. She learned strategy and combat, archery from her father, and swordsmanship from Balian.

"She showed me the sword you gave her," Sebastian said as he appeared by him. Balian was leaning on the fence watching her lesson with Captain Drake. "Really, Brother, you shouldn't have."

Balian smiled and returned his attention to the maneuvers she was attempting to master. Finn, her bay mount, belonged to the man teaching her and was a spirited one. "It was no trouble. If she wants to protect this city and herself she will have the very best weapon I can give her."

Sebastian felt comforted by Balian's desire to protect his family. "Evelyn is with child."

It was surprising news. "Congratulations, my friend," he replied shaking his hand and giving him a friendly hug.

"A new niece or nephew for you to dote upon."

"What of her? She's almost of age."

Sebastian sighed, there was one big one a few weeks before the attack. "One from Denerim."

"Denerim…Duncan?" he questioned shocked and was a little confused. "But she's heir to Starkhaven…you'd marry her off to Fereldan?"

The same question Sebastian had when he'd first read it. The same thought Evelyn had. "An extremely beneficial marriage. Duncan is a fine man and I suspect Meghan will be extremely angry with me once I bring it up."

Meghan reminded Balian of Bree. They were very similar but he had the sense that they probably wouldn't get along. "She is very independent."

"She likes you better, why don't you tell her," Sebastian joked.

Balian scoffed loudly. "Are you kidding? I taught her how to use that sword."

Sebastian was not happy to hear that Zevran had resorted to torture, the Chantry frowned upon torture, but after two days on the rack he broke. It wasn't in Sebastian's nature to torture someone.

"I told you no torture," Sebastian admonished yet Zevran seemed unaffected by the Prince's scolding. "We are not Orlais."

"He knows nothing more," Cole said. "Agnus was an accident, you were the target."

"There are more assassins about, of that I am certain," Zevran added casually. "He doesn't know specifics but the contract was not fulfilled, there will be more."

Sebastian was annoyed, Zevran didn't get much more from the assassin then they had. "My family should not live in fear."

"Agreed, but the Black Hand have a finite number of people, Prince."

"Are you saying they'll just stop?" Balian inquired disbelievingly.

"No, of course not. They'll be more careful but they will try again," Zevran replied and Sebastian looked frustrated. There was no simple fix to the situation. "Continue with your family routine, they will try again and I will find them."

Zevran's relaxed tone angered Balian. "This is not a game, Arainai."

"I know that, but there is a reason that the Inquisitor sent Cole and I," Zevran reassured understanding Balian's frustration. His love for this family mirrored the love Zevran had for the Theirin's and the Hawke's. "Trust me."

Sebastian turned to Balian, he'd heard enough. Someone was going to pay for Agnus' death. "Gather the men, Brother, I will send word to Emperor Jean-Fredric that he now has an ally and that Starkhaven officially declares war on Tevinter.