DISCLAIMER: I base my stories on Intellectual Property (IP) owned by BioWare ™ and EA™. I pretend to live in their world.

SPOILERS: I refer to information from the games, the novels and the comics. If you have not played or read, please beware.

"Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment…"
That was Ferelden
Ruled by King Maric the Savior
Camelot – Lerner and Lowe

Chapter 25: MASKS

9:23 Dragon 28 Solace === Dragon's Peak Monastery === 7 months later

Alistair's thirteenth Name Day passed unnoticed, except for Teyrn Loghain and Lady Anora, who visited that day. The Teyrn offered no congratulations, only a fine dinner at the Dragon's Rest. Alistair had been at Dragon's Peak almost three years. In a year, I'll become a templar initiate, unless….well, unless King Maric acknowledges me. Ten had not been his lucky number, maybe fourteen would be.

During their visit, Loghain gave him Lys' Bloomingtide letter. Alistair would read the letter more than once.

9:23 Dragon 13 Bloomingtide

Dear Alistair,

It has been a long time between letters, but not because I didn't think about you. I think about you every day. I often think, 'I want to tell Ali about that.' I always write those things in my journal and pretend I'm telling you. It's not the same, but it helps.

I've been away from Highever since Satinalia, so I could not get a letter to Loghain. And…well…I suppose I'm not sure you want letters from me. Your letters to me are so brief, but I'll be an optimist and believe you'll read this. We went to Nevarra as usual in Firstfall and Haring. Then, when we returned, I spent time with Sarien, my Dalish friend. Then back to Nevarra. I hardly know Highever anymore, much less Denerim.

After our normal visit to Nevarra, I spent Wintermarch and part of Guardian with the Rasiae clan. I moved in with Sarien and her parents and lived in their aravel with them. The aravel is their home. It's a wooden structure on wheels and the Dalish adorn it with bright cloths that resemble sails. I didn't ride in it. The Rasiae settled into their Highever camp in Harvestmere. I did help them pack up to leave for the South before I went home.

I had a wonderful time. Ariel and Finian Fenhariel treated me like their second daughter. I had daily duties and archery training. The best part, tho', was learning crafts and herbs. I worked with the clan herbalist and their fiber and textile artisans. Every Dalish child develops specialities and those are mine. Over the seven weeks I spent with them, I learned so much about plants, dying fibers, weaving on their looms and making potions and poultices. They use very simple, narrow looms. The cloth they weave is narrow, so they sew the strips together to make wider pieces of cloth for clothing. Each cloth strip coordinates with the rest. It's planned that way, but the weaving must be very precise to achieve a good result. The finished cloth is quite beautiful.

I almost wish I could just stay with them. Almost… but I would miss Mum and Fergus... and Father. I am a Cousland. I have responsibilities and I will fulfill them, even if I disappoint everyone anyway. Duty is a four-letter word. Sorry, that's a joke, sort of, with Pippa. In some languages, you see, bad words often have four letters, hence a word with four letters is a bad word…does that make sense?

After I returned to Castle Cousland, Mum and I went back to Nevarra in Guardian and Drakonis. Mum wanted to purchase fabric and have clothing made for Fergus' wedding. Yes, I said wedding. My big brother met a young woman in Antiva a few years ago. He's courted her ever since and last year her family agreed to a betrothal. He's fortunate. He found a woman he loves, who loves him and everyone agrees they should marry. Their wedding will be on Summerday in Highever. I am happy for them both, of course, but I think I will find the day bittersweet. Maybe you understand why.

My laurel band fits my left hand now, by the way. I've grown quite tall. Perhaps you will think I am too tall and awkward. Some people say that. I still train every day, however, so I'm very strong. And my hair is still well past my waist and usually in a long braid. And my eyes are still green. And I still miss you.

Fergus' wife's name is Oriana Falanni. Her eyes are blue and her hair is short and red, but a soft red, not brilliant or shocking. She's average height and feminine and sweet, with an acerbic wit that keeps Fergus in line. She knows poisons, too, although she doesn't tell everyone that. She promised to teach me. She will be my good-sister. I prefer that term to sister-in-law, and she fits it. She is good. I like her.

The Falanni are an important merchant family in Antiva, very wealthy and influential. It's a good match, although Arl Howe is very put out about it. He still had hopes of marrying Delilah to Fergus. Poor Delilah. I understand she is very unhappy. She's fifteen now and not betrothed. There was talk of her and Vaughn Kendall – ugh! But Vaughn's betrothed to Habren Bryland now.

Enough gossip. I'm very happy for Fergus. Oriana is lovely – both in appearance and personality. We met her in Cumberland, then she and her mother returned with us to Highever to prepare for the nuptials. It will be lovely to have a good-sister. And before you ask, yes, of course, Pippa and I are still friends. She loves Oriana too.

I've taken to wearing a mask when I'm in Cumberland. The Nevarrans are funny. They hate Orlais, as we do, but have very similar fashions. Not quite as fussy, but almost. And, just like Orlesians, they wear masks. Mine is quite simple, really, just a piece of fabric that hangs from a across my forehead. Appropriate to my age, Mum says. (Rolling my eyes.) It has large eyeholes; I hate not being able to see. The mask hangs down in front of my ears on the side (don't want to hide my earrings do I?), then curves above my jaw line and up over my cheeks to hang below my eyes and above the tip of my nose, which leaves me free to breathe. I hate stiff masks or masks that cover the whole face. I have a variety in many different colors and fabrics. Most have laurel branches to indicate my family, altho' a few use the Haris crest, which is a sleeping dragon. Sometimes I combine the two, the laurel surrounding the sleeping dragon. A few have nothing, making me anonymous.

I'm thinking of getting a chainmail mask to wear under a helmet. I think it would provide better vision than a visor or nose guard and almost as much protection. We'll see if that design is even possible. With a mask and helmet, I could enter tournaments as a mysterious squire and best everyone. Ha Ha! Unless you competed, then I'd lose, I'm sure.

I stayed in Nevarra after everyone else left in mid-Drakonis. I went to the Haris estate with Cousin Samuel. He would like me to be his apprentice and one day succeed him. Father hasn't agreed. So I visit and apprentice with him when I can. (Well, since Father hasn't agreed, I don't really apprentice, but I call it that in my head.) At the Estate, I can also train with Hrothgar's Wrath. My blade work and archery always improve when I do. I asked the smith if he could make the battle mask and helmet I designed. He thought it possible. I hope to have it in Justinian when I return.

I arrived home a week before Summerday and the wedding. Everyone in Ferelden and Antiva attended, I think. Well, almost everyone. I'm happy for Fergus and Oriana, but I just wanted to run away during the Summerday festivities. I didn't this year. I got in enough trouble last year for doing that! No one had time to ride or walk the beaches or sail as we usually do. Starfall was quite annoyed with me for neglecting her for a week. Hitch took it in stride and I hope explained it to Starfall. (…and yes, I DO think animals communicate, maybe not in words, but they do. I'm stamping my foot, with hands on hips, as I say that.) Pippa missed Nathaniel, so she was as lonely as I was. We tried to keep each other company.

Oh right, I didn't tell you about Nate. Arl Howe said he had not advanced sufficiently at South Reach, ( I scoff softly as I write that) so he sent him to the Free Marches to begin his squiring again. He'll be there for seven years. Oddly, this happened just after Arl Kendall announced Vaughn's betrothal to Habren, which quashed Howe's hopes for Delilah and Vaughn – lucky Delilah! I think he hoped to snag Habren for Nathaniel…lucky Nathaniel! Honestly, I think Vaughn and Habren may deserve each other. (Am I too evil?).

It's rumored that Nathaniel's been disinherited as well in favor of Thomas. Although that may be good news for Pippa. Nate can come home a knight and lead Highever's forces, so they could marry and stay right here. And maybe I could…. Or Pippa and I will just never marry and go to Nevarra and work for House Haris. Or maybe Nate will join us there. Maybe someone else as well? And we can all wear masks.

Well enough chatter and gossip. I'll be surprised if you got this far. If you did, please write a nice chatty letter to me. Tell me about your training and the library and the scriptorium. What are you drawing? What are you reading? Is there any gossip in a monastery. If so, please tell me! I realize I am nosy, but I miss you. Every day, but especially during Summerday. I'll be watching for falling stars, Ali. Always.

Your, Lys

He leaned back against the bolster on his bunk. He chuckled at her comments, but felt sad at the same time. The candle burned down and guttered out in the sconce above him. With the curtain closed, his cubicle darkened. He took a ragged breathe. I don't want to know she misses me. I don't want to imagine walking with her in the gardens. I don't want to see green eyes. He clenched his fists, then pounded them on the mattress. Not for the first time he wondered why, with all the other miracles she'd performed, Anora couldn't get permission for the Couslands to visit. That was not a question he would ask the Teyrn.

He enjoyed Teyrn Loghain's visits. He even enjoyed the conversations with Lady Anora. He did not have to pretend too much when he was with the Mac Tirs, he just had to make sure he said nothing out of line. Like asking why he could not see Lys.

He wrote a longer than usual response in the morning, telling her of his friendship with Cullen, who was now an initiate; about the other pages and their pranks; and of his progress at arms training, his work in the scriptorium and his studies. He found it easier to write if he pretended he was talking to her. Perhaps that what she does. Why her letters are so long. Loghain smiled at the size of the folded parchment Alistair gave him.

"She'll be happy with such a long letter, Alistair."

"I hope so. Lys…she should be happy."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

His third year at Dragon's Peak continued to go smoothly, with little change in the routine. Loghain, often accompanied by Lady Anora, visited every month or two. Teyrn Loghain continued to bring letters from Lys Cousland. Alistair continued to reply, although each letter grew shorter and less personal again in spite of his attempts to keep them long and, as Lys said, chatty. That Lys wrote continued to surprise him. She couldn't still care about a boy she hadn't seen in over three years, he thought.

When Anora and Loghain visited, she spoke about how pretty Lys had become and how proud the Teyrn and Teyrna were of her many accomplishments. Apparently, Lys continued to excel at archery and with her blades, but she had also developed social skills. She regularly attended some teas and salons when in Denerim, even an afternoon dance or two.

She also spent more time in Nevarra Anora reported, but no one was quite sure what she did there. Anora added that the nobility speculated about who might become her betrothed and whether it would be a Fereldan or a Nevarran. He recalled Lys saying that girls were always betrothed by age fourteen, but that her parents would let her marry whom she chose. Could she still consider herself betrothed to me? She had said the laurel ring fit her left hand. Of course not, idiot. That was a childish fancy. She'll want to marry a noble, perhaps in Nevarra. Or maybe she'll return to her other world, if that story was even real. He had seen the satellite again, from the monastery roof. Lys was never one to lie, but that story about Areth….well, once away from her, it did seem farfetched, at best.

Loghain found Anora's penchant for relating news about the Couslands odd. Of course, Alistair always sent his greetings to Teyrna Eleanor, so he supposed Anora thought the news would interest him. Alistair always listened attentively, but rarely showed any real emotion. He had become able to mask some of his thoughts and feelings when he wanted to. At other times, his blushes and awkwardness came through. 'How good an actor has he become?' Loghain wondered.

Anora mentioned Fergus' marriage. She noted that Oriana's father was a wealthy merchant, but that there were family ties to Antivan nobility.

"And perhaps the Antivan Crows," Anora added. "Most Antivan nobility are, so probably the merchants are too." Anora scoffed at the foreign alliance, but conceded that the young woman, Oriana, was pleasant enough. She had been quite delightful during the various Satinalia events they both attended.

Anora speculated that Howe would want to marry Thomas to Lys Cousland, if his father disinherited Nathaniel in favor of Thomas. Alistair, of course, had read this in Lys' letter, but still found the news about Nathaniel puzzling and the news about Thomas and Lys disturbing.

'Stop!' Alistair told himself. I don't know these people any longer. It has nothing to do with me. Lys will marry whom she chooses. Thomas is no threat to her.

Loghain had watched Alistair's expressions and comments as Anora spoke that evening. The boy listened impassively to most of the news. It was only when Anora mentioned Lys and Thomas that a brief look of distress crossed his face. Anora, he observed, looked pleased. Now what was that about? He shrugged it off.

He did wonder that Anora had been unable to convince the Revered Mother to allow Alistair other visitors. He understood that permission to travel away from Dragon's Peak would have to come from Maric and the Grand Cleric, but visitors to the Monastery could be observed and controlled. Apparently, Anora's influence and persuasion only went so far. At least Alistair could stay with them in the village.

He had come to realize he would never understand all of Anora's machinations, but it didn't matter. She tried to help Alistair where she could. She cared about Cailan and Ferelden. She would be a fine queen. He would stick to being a general.

9:24 Dragon 18 Solace === Dragon's Peak

As his fourteenth Name Day approached, Alistair grew more quiet and withdrawn. His friends noticed he spent more time in the library or in the practice yards destroying the sparring dummies or winning sparring matches with his furious attacks. No word had come from King Maric. Teyrn Loghain's last visit had been in Cloudreach, before Summerday. Now the time when he would become a templar initiate approached and, it seemed, he would not be rescued.

Most of his friends visited family during fest days. Some of the older templar initiates even competed in tourneys as squires in the Vesper Elimination duels. Alistair stayed in the monastery with the other orphan initiates. He usually took advantage of the extra time to work with the Trainer or the brothers in the scriptorium, although, with the other pages gone, the templars often tagged him for additional duties.

This Funalis would be no different. He had to get through it, then in mid-August, he would take his vows as a templar initiate. Regardless of what Loghain had promised, he believed that once he took those vows his path would be set. He had seen a few older templars and heard rumors of what made them so…odd. Lyrium – the initiates whispered about its lure, the powers it gave and the cost it elicited. He wanted no part of it. Not that he believed he would have a choice.

Loghain surprised him when he arrived on his Name Day. "Anora convinced the Revered Mother to grant permission for you to ride out with me," Loghain informed him. "I assume you still ride?"

"Yes, Your Grace. Only on the monastery grounds, but I can still ride." Alistair looked puzzled. "Where are we going?"

"Nowhere special, I'm afraid. Up to the Peak, then dinner at the inn. I just thought it might be a good change."

Alistair smiled, "It would, Your Grace. Thank you."

Loghain and Alistair walked into Dragon's Peak village, which spread out from the Monastery's North Gate. Half-timbered buildings housing shops lined the main street. Most catered to the Chantry brothers and sisters; the templars; the students allowed free time outside the monastery grounds; and the families who visited them. The shop nearest the gate, on their left, sold Chantry vestments and religious items. The smell of bread baking from the nearby bakery filled the air where it mixed with the odor of hops from the brew house beyond the inn's yard.

The Dragon's Rest Inn stood just beyond the Monastery wall on their right. The inn and its rank of outbuildings were surrounded by its own wall. The Dragon's Rest itself sprawled along the south wall, which abutted the monastery boundary. Several additions expanded the original building facing the road into one that could accommodate scores of guests. The kitchens stood, at right angle to the inn buildings, against the wall opposite the roadside entry gate. The stables made up part of the rank of buildings on the north wall. The hostler had Loghain's horse, and another hired from the stables for Alistair, ready in the yard.

"Maker, I'd forgotten there was a world outside the Monastery walls," Alistair said softly, almost to himself as they rode up the steepening trail to the summit of Dragon's Peak. "Thank you, Teyrn Loghain. It's nice to be reminded."

"Of what you miss?" Loghain frowned and rubbed his neck. "I hope this wasn't a mistake."

"No. It's…nice." As they approached the peak, the trail steepened and they dismounted and walked the horses. They tethered them to a scrubby tree just below the peak. The final half mile was open rock scoured by winds off the Amaranthine Ocean to the east. The few stunted trees and low bushes curved towards the west, shaped by the prevailing winds off the ocean.

"Maker's Breath," Alistair smiled. "It's amazing. Is that Denerim down there? It's so tiny. That spire, is that Fort Drakon? I never really saw Denerim the one time I visited."

"It is. The Royal Palace is just east of the Fort." Loghain pointed out some other Denerim landmarks, then turned and pointed south, "and that's the Brecilian Forest. You can almost see to Gwaren. At least it seems that way on such a clear day."

"Do you miss it?"

"Miss it?"

"Gwaren. I mean, I know you visit occasionally, but do you miss living there?"

Loghain smiled sadly. "Yes and no. I had happy times there when Anora was small. Her mother and I were happy for a while. Then the King asked me to come to Denerim." He sighed. "Anora has never quite forgiven me for leaving, but your father needed me."

"You've been a good friend to him, not just to Ferelden."

"He's like a brother to me Alistair. You're both incurring a great loss, being apart. He's a remarkable man. He has his faults, mind you, but somehow, when he's at his best, you forget them." He shook his head as if to clear it. "If he wanted to conquer the Fade, I would lead the charge," he said so quietly, Alistair had to strain to hear him above the wind.

Alistair said nothing, unsure how he could respond. He did not know the man. His idea of a father stood beside him. They remained quiet for a while taking in the view.

"Thank you, Teyrn Loghain. I've never been atop a mountain like this. It's fantastic."

"I wanted to do something special today. I know you dislike any fuss."

"It's a good day, Your Grace. Thank you. "

"I do have a letter for you." He held out a folded parchment. "If you'd like to read it now, go ahead. I'll unpack our meal."

9:24 Dragon 29 Bloomingtide

Dear Alistair,

I'm hoping this letter reaches Teyrn Loghain before he visits you again. I didn't write sooner because I have exciting news and wanted to wait to include it. We delayed our normal trip to Nevarra because of it.

So the news - I can now happily announce that I am an aunt. Can you imagine, me an aunt? Worse, can you imagine Fergus a father! My nephew's – MY Nephew! - name is Oren and he is adorable. Mum is ecstatic to be a grandmother. Father is pretty happy too.

Oriana and Oren are well. Fergus is a very proud Papa, as you might imagine. So it has all been very exciting. I can't wait to teach him to ride and shoot and walk the beaches and the cliffs and use blades…that will be fun. I just wish…Maker's toenails, I miss you.

So took a deep breathe. Feeling better now. I'm thinking of Oren and when not admiring, feeding, changing, cuddling or otherwise glorying in my new auntly status, my life is the same. Training, studying, working with the guilds and House Haris. Nothing new. Well, perhaps one thing. I thought I had stealth skills, but I've learned I have none.

Several Antivans accompanied Oriana when she arrived last year. Her lady's maid, of course, and also a body guard. Not that her family didn't trust the Highever guard, but having a personal bodyguard is apparently normal in Antiva. Her family wanted to make sure Highever was as safe as we claimed before abandoning her to our inferior skills, I suppose. Anyway, the body guard, an elf, who insisted I simply call him Zed (as in X, Y, Zed) proved to be an expert with blades, lock picking and stealth. He taught me so much. I sparred with him several times a week and worked on my lock picking (nothing is safe from me now I assure you), but the stealth lessons were the best.

Zed left soon after Oren was born. He said he'd only been hired for a year, but stayed on through the birth. Although, during the year, he would disappear every so often. Anyway, he taught me so much. I'll miss him. I'll have much to show the Wrath's trainers when I get there.

So, when we see each other again, guard your purse. I can steal your belongings and be gone before you realize it. Hmm. Perhaps I should practice in the Denerim market next time I'm in the city. No. No. No. Not on the merchants. I can think of some nobles who deserve a lesson or two, however. (Evil girl considers how to pick her nasty cousin Habren's pocket when she's distracted by jewels. Or maybe after she buys the jewels. He he.)

I won't wish you a happy Name Day. I hope Teyrn Loghain visits you before then.

I don't leave for Nevarra until after the autumn Landsmeet. This year, I'll stay there for Satinalia. It will be a busy autumn and winter, I expect, but I won't bore you with investments, contracts and negotiations. I'll divide my time between Cumberland and the Estate, although I expect there will be some trips to Tantervale, Starkhaven and maybe further afield. It's fun. I enjoy the challenges and meeting new people. And of course dressing up and wearing masks.

I should also report that the silverite helmet and chainmail mask are wonderful. I've used them for months now. The chain is fine, but heavy enough to mold to my face, so my vision is excellent when I spar. No visor or nose guard sticking out and blinding me. The eye holes are pretty large and the helmet over the mask feels quite comfortable.

I have a large collection of dressy masks now too, to go with all my fine clothing. There will be many fetes, salons and teas over the holiday, so I will get to practice my social skills and my dancing. Mum is a bit more lenient in Nevarra and lets me attend some grown up functions, at least for part of the evening. I do love to dance. It's like doing forms to music. Do they teach you dancing at the Peak?

Mum and Father will join me in Cumberland for the holiday, while Fergus, Oriana and Oren stay in Highever. I expect the Broughtens will be in Cumberland, with us, as well. It should be fun to experience Satinalia in Nevarra. I'll tell you all about it when I write in Firstfall.

I wish…no I won't say that. Only that I miss you. I'm jealous that Loghain gets to see you. I should close now before I get maudlin again.

I still watch for falling stars, Ali. Always. Always. Your, Lys

He folded the letter and put it in his belt pouch, schooling his expression to one of contentment. "She sounds busy. Fergus must be pleased being a father."

"He is. They had a fine baby boy."

"Give them my best, if you think of it. I always liked Fergus. He was almost like a bro…well I liked him."

"I will tell him, Alistair."

They stretched out on the rocky ledge, eating the food the inn had packed for them. Loghain had a wine skin, which he shared with Alistair, allowing him a few swallows to celebrate the day. The other skin offered sweet cider. Of course, there was cheese, along with bread, apples and berry tarts.

As they ate, Loghain pointed out other landmarks visible from their perch. Then he challenged Alistair to envision how an army might approach Denerim to lay siege. Alistair laughed. It was like having a huge sand table or map spread before him. He could imagine troops moving along the north and west roads, along the Drakon river and through the forests.

He asked Loghain about the coasts north and south of Denerim.

"The southern coast rises to towering cliffs," Loghain replied. "Cliffs also rise on the north edge of Denerim and continue along the coast for some miles. In fact, he added, Highever House, the Couslands Denerim estate, stands at the northern edge of Denerim on such a cliff. A few miles further north, however, the coast flattens and forests cover the land right down to the narrow sandy beaches."

"I can land troops from the sea on those beaches just north of the city. They can travel through the forest undetected and attack from the north."

After several hours of war games, the two finally decided to return to the inn.

"You did well, Alistair. You had some novel ideas for approaching the city. You used the river and terrain features well."

"Thank you, Teyrn Loghain. I enjoyed it. I don't think I'd like to fight in real life, knowing all the destruction it would cause, but it's good to know I could. I'd always defend Ferelden."

"I know you would, Alistair."

"Teyrn Loghain, I'd rather defend Ferelden, than hunt mages." He looked at Loghain his expression pleading for a reprieve from the vows he faced.

"I can't change what's coming, Alistair. Just remember, these are not final vows. You will not have to take final vows unless you choose to."

"Right. I'll keep that in mind. I hope the Revered Mother and Knight-Commander understand that."

"The Grand Cleric and your father do, Alistair, that's all that matters." Loghain dismounted outside the inn. The hostler took the two horses. Loghain and Alistair went to Loghain's rooms. "Will your life change that much?"

"No. Not really. I'll likely get less time in the library and scriptorium and more time at arms training, but that's not so awful. The first and second year initiates never go on mage hunts or visit the Tower of Magi. That won't happen until the third year, at the earliest, depending on your skills. The additional arms training includes training in the special templar skills. That will be all new to me. Cuthbert and I will have an advantage over the new initiates." He grinned.

"New initiates?"

"The ones that come from elsewhere as initiates. They haven't been pages here as Bert and I have, so they will be at a disadvantage. We're already being trained in templar fighting skills. We'll be the senior boys in our class and probably get some leadership positions."

"Good to hear," Loghain replied, "and knowing how to subdue a mage can't be a bad thing either. Just another weapon to be put to proper use."

Alistair's eyes narrowed, "I never thought of it quite that way, but you're correct, of course." He looked around the room as if he expected to see someone else.

"I thought about it."

Alistair's head whipped around. "Abo…you thought about what?"

"About bringing Eleanor and Lys or having her meet us on the Peak. I decided it would be too great a risk to our visits and too difficult for you both. To see each other for a few hours, not knowing when you would see each other again. I might have done it anyway, but they didn't come to Denerim. They tend to stay in Highever for Funalis; or, at least, Lys, Oriana and Eleanor do. Lys avoids Redcliffe, but the Teyrn and Fergus sometimes go."

Alistair sighed. "It's best you didn't get her hopes up."

"And yours?"

Alistair looked down, scuffing his shoe against the floor. "I try not to hope. Just take what comes and adjust." He raised his eyes, his head still down. Shrugging he added, "It's what I do, remember, adjust."

"I think Lys may be learning that lesson. She's become very serious about her training, her work with House Haris and her studies. The passionate, impulsive little girl you knew has grown up. She still cares about you though. I am required to provide a full report to your father and Lys after every visit."

"That's too bad. We all grow up, but I would have expected she would keep some of that passion and…temerity."

Loghain laughed. "Well she has tempered the passion, but she's certainly self-assured, so I would say she's converted it and controls it. She's still capable of being impetuous on occasion. It's just more rare now, but it hasn't disappeared altogether. I must admit, I miss the hugs." He opened the door to the serving woman bringing their dinner. "Let's eat, Alistair. That ride made me hungry again and this venison stew looks delicious."

"You provide a report after every visit?"

"In person, to Maric. If Lys is not in Denerim, then by letter. I've told her you find it hard to write. She understands. She said you bury everything that hurts you and asked me not to make you dig it out."

"Tell her I'll try to write more. I'll tell her too, but put it in your report." He smirked, "You'll make it official."

Loghain shook his head. "I'll do it Alistair, but you better follow through. The wrath of Lady Cousland can be an imposing thing. I know, I've been its target quite often these past few years."

"Good to know, Your Grace." Seeing Loghain's puzzled look, he added, "That Lys defends me. I'd do the same for her."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Loghain managed to get Alistair excused from duty for several days. Permission for day long rides to anywhere but Denerim had been given by the Revered Mother. It was understood that no one else was to join them. They took another long ride, circling the mountain to the south and riding down to the seacoast southeast of the Peak. They remained on the cliff tops as the sheer drops precluded any simple hikes to the rocks below. There were no beaches along this stretch of the Amaranthine Ocean. They continued their strategy games and sparred. Then Loghain surprised him and brought out a bow.

"Let's see if you can still shoot."

Alistair groaned. "It's been four years since I touched a bow!"

"Not a skill you forget, boy." Loghain growled handing him a full quiver and strung bow. "Ready your bow," he commanded.

Alistair slipped the quiver on his back and readied the bow as ordered.

Loghain continued with the age-old commands. "Nock… mark…draw…loose."

Alistair obeyed as the unused skills returned and he surprised himself by actually hitting the tree. Before he could think any further the command chant began again. After five arrows, Loghain had him step back ten paces and try again.

"Once an archer, always an archer." Loghain walked over to the tree and pulled nine arrows from it. "Go find the one that missed."

Alistair walked past the tree into the brush to its right and soon came up with the errant arrow.

"Well, I could do better, but I'm glad I only missed with one shot."

"You did well. A new, longer, heavier bow and longer arrows, I didn't expect it to go this well. It must be your eyesight."

Alistair laughed. "Right. Alistair, the elf."

Loghain smiled, "I'd forgotten that. Let's try again." After several series of shots, Loghain called a halt and told Alistair to unstring the bow. "It's time we head back. It's a long ride. We'll just make it in time for dinner."

They rode silently most of the way. A comfortable silence of two friends enjoying the day and each other's company. Loghain left the following day. Then, August came and Alistair took his vows as an initiate, but, as he predicted, not much changed. The following months passed quickly. Weather permitting they continued to ride when Loghain, and sometimes Anora, would visit every month or two.

A/N: Thank you for reading. Please review, favorite, subscribe and/or follow. As a new author, I welcome encouragement, suggestions and critiques.

Huge thanks to my beta Kira Tamarion. She's tolerant of my rather lengthy chapters. I look forward each week to her insightful comments and suggestions. None of the errors are hers – they are all mine.

Thanks to all who Favorited, Followedand Reviewed – most recently Eastern Violet, Arsinoe de Blassenville, Pollyanna24, clafount and KatDancer2. Thanks for the thoughtful feedback. I know I'm evil…he's still in the Chantry and they haven't seen each other in so long. Know this….it could be worse, but I hope you keep reading anyway.

There are appendices with background assumptions on timeline, character ages, calendar, fest days, travel distances, etc. in AO3. If such things interest you, please go to Archive of Our Own series, I Shall Endure (remove spaces and copy): archive of our /works/692656/chapters/1273563