The sound of a newborn baby's cry rang out across Skyhold.

Varania expected there to be questions and certainly shock when they returned with a man they'd held a memorial for, but she hadn't expected all the smiles, the tears in their eyes. That sound, that incredible, unmistakable sound was infectious. Lusty and strong, that cry insisted that life refused to bow down in the face of Corypheus or war or death.

"You know," Varric commented as they made their way through the waning evening light in the courtyard, "Never was much on kids myself, but this is definitely going into my next book." Varania gave Varric a smile of her own. They were all in much better spirits after some rest despite the trek up the mountain path back to the keep and Varric's eyes twinkled at her.

"Look at 'em all," He continued. "It's like we won already."

Varania shot Solas a look over Varric's head. "We will."

Solas was the exception to their improved mood. Not even cajoling from Bull had elicited a reaction from him. After a while, they just let him be, following behind them, walking alone and in silence. Varania stared at him pointedly now, insisting on some sort of response. He seemed to fight against an expression but acquiesced eventually, nodding in agreement but didn't speak. He held her gaze for just a little too long before turning to go. He headed for the stairs and disappeared through the archway beneath them.

Just as he slipped into the shadows, Fiona came dashing down the stairs above his head, grinning widely. She was so sedate most of the time, trying to be so carefully reserved after all that had happened, but there was joy radiating from her. It was such a rare emotion these days filled with death and tragedy around every corner. It was beautiful to see.

There were a group of mages at the bottom of the stairs who were clearly waiting for her. Circle Mages, from the flutter of their multicolored robes, though not a one wasn't patched or faded now.

"Well?"

"Tell us!"

"Is everything okay?

They all seemed to speak at once until Fiona shushed them with a raised hand. Her face was still beaming when she spoke.

"It's a boy!"

There were cheers and congratulations as if Fiona had borne the child herself, not that somewhat wan looking red-haired mage who'd come to Skyhold just as they were leaving for the Mire as Varania assumed. Varania made her way towards the gathered mages, Varric, Bull and Loghain still behind her. At some point, Morrigan slipped away, though Varania wasn't surprised.

"Grand Enchanter," Varania said. She knew it was no longer Fiona's title, but it seemed right to use it. "It appears you have wonderful news."

Fiona turned towards them, her dark green eyes damp with happy tears. "Yes and we desperately needed some. Everything went splendidly. Mother and child are…." She stopped talking suddenly, the blood draining from her face, her mouth falling open. "Andraste's tits," she cursed.

Varania frowned. "What is it?"

Fiona's face couldn't decide on an expression, flickering between various shades of bewilderment, confusion and shock. The corner of her mouth almost smirked, but then something passed through her eyes and she frowned instead.

"Loghain." She said his name quietly. She had come to his memorial but left early as Varania recalled, looking vaguely ill the entire time. At the time, it hadn't seemed terribly important. She heard some half rumor that Fiona had known the former Teyrn years ago, but she didn't know any details.

She heard Loghain from behind her, his voice almost painfully neutral. "Fiona."

"How? We thought you were dead." Fiona's voice was just barely a whisper. The mages that had come for her happy news looked immediately uncomfortable and they began nervously moving away, trying too hard to be casual.

Loghain laughed in reply but Varania was certain she'd never heard a more bitter sound. "I am as surprised as you are."

"Not yet you are not." Fiona closed her mouth and pursed her lips. She swallowed. Licked her lips nervously.

Varania turned to look at Loghain who was watching Fiona impassively, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked better than he did when he first fell out of the Fade, the medics having done their usual good work, but he still looked diminished, smaller, older than he had before.

Fiona spoke again. "The child is doing very well; healthy, robust." she said, continuing where she left off earlier, despite the fact that her previous audience of fellow Circle mages had slunk away in discomfort. She smiled faintly though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Quite the mop of curly black hair," she added. She took a deep breath before she continued. "His mother is quite enamored with him though she was understandably disturbed to hear that the father of her child had died." She let out a sharp breath. "Finding him still alive is going to be quite a shock."

"What?" Varania blurted out before anyone else had a chance to ask.

No one spoke for a few heartbeats. Varania turned her face back to Loghain. He'd dropped his arms and his face was pale. He looked like he wanted to speak but was at a loss for words.

"The mother is Adrian," Fiona said softly. Varania recognized the name from the letter they found in the Fade. Loghain made a strangled sound. "She never made it to the conclave, but she did make it here," Fiona continued. "She told me what happened in Montsimmard and I had the painful job of telling her what had happened to the disgraced Fereldan Grey Warden who had, beyond all reasonable expectations, planted a child in her." She gave a breathy laugh. "I don't even know what to tell her now. But congratulations Loghain, your son is beautiful."

"Maker," was all Loghain managed when he finally spoke. "How is this even possible?"

Fiona laughed resentfully. "You of all people should be well aware that both Grey Wardens and what is possible are not at all black and white."

"I don't even know what to say." Loghain words were choked with emotion.

Fiona considered and crossed her arms over her chest, mirroring his earlier posture. "Tell me one thing, Loghain," she began. "Are Adrian's feelings, her memories of your time in Montsimmard only nostalgia or…"

"No," Loghain interrupted her. "It was real." He took a shaky breath. "Though I can't blame you for doubting me. I am not entirely the same man you met all those years ago."

"Good," she said. "Then let's go." She frowned. "Actually, give me a few moments. If you just go rushing in there, she's probably going to assume you're a demon and hit you with a fireball."

Loghain chuckled. "That sounds like Adrian."

Fiona smirked genuinely this time as she turned to go back up the stairs. Loghain watched her go and shook his head as if he couldn't believe what had just transpired. Varania wasn't sure she understood entirely, but she could assume. Loghain had fallen in love with a mage, a friend of Fiona's. A woman who was lucky to be alive presumably, since so many died at the Conclave. Perhaps this explained some of her conversation with him that late night as she waited for Solas to return. Just the thought of Solas made her heart thump hard in her chest.

"I could swear I was still in the Fade," Loghain said quietly. "Demons were quite adept at trying to give me what I wanted."

Varania was still looking at the stairs, trying not to picture Solas sitting quietly at his desk in the rotunda and failing miserably. If this was the Fade, she wouldn't still be losing him. "It seems pretty real to me."

"I don't know how..." Loghain's voice shook a little. He took a deep breath as Varania turned to look at him. His face wore the ghost of a smile. "Thank you Inquisitor, for a lot of things. And now, I have to…." He paused and this time, he actually smiled, putting his hand on Varania's arm. "I have to go meet my son."

"I hope to meet him soon." She returned his smile. As fragile as her heart felt, she couldn't help but reciprocate a smile that sincere. Loghain nodded and headed towards the stairs. He paused at the bottom, looking up the length of the stones with that same unexpected, brilliant smile on his face. He took a step and kept going until he was gone through the tall double doors of the hall.

"Well," Varric said from behind her. She'd almost forgotten he was even there. "After that, I think I need a drink."

"Several," Bull agreed. "Join us?"

Varania shook her head. She didn't think she'd be much for company. She couldn't even sort out how she felt. This moment, this entire thing seemed like something out of a story - the completely unlikely chance for two people to find each other again, despite overwhelming odds. It was the sort of fantasy she often entertained when she lived among the Dalish, dreaming of someone, some handsome elf, coming in and sweeping her off her feet, loving her despite her past and all her terrible, foolish past mistakes. For a few aching heartbeats, it felt like she'd gotten her wish when she met Solas but then it was snatched away again.

She was happy for Loghain and painfully jealous and mortified that she felt that way all at once.

"Next time," she mumbled, knowing Bull and Varric were still waiting for a reply.

"Right," Varric said, not pressing her further. "I'm sure you have Inquisitorial things to do. All right then Bull, let's see if my dwarven constitution can out pace Qunari brute force."

"You're on," Bull laughed. "First round's on me."

They headed off towards the Herald's Rest, leaving Varania standing there alone. The blessing and the curse of being the Inquisitor meant that people rarely tried to make small talk with her. She was in a keep surrounded by people and she hadn't felt this alone since the night she ran from Kirkwall. She struggled. All she wanted to do was go to see Solas; to tell him everything that happened, to tell him what she thought she knew about Morrigan and Loghain's other son and now his new son; to share her thoughts with him because sometimes it seemed like he was the only one who understood her at all. But she wondered now if she'd known him at all. Maybe it was a failing on her part. He pushed her away for a reason. She resolved to go speak with him, but not for the selfish reasons swirling in her head.

Perhaps he didn't want her any longer, but she still cared about him . He was her friend. She needed to be a better friend to him, even if it broke her heart.

He was going to need some time but soon, she promised herself, she would try to talk to him. Maybe then...maybe someday he'd tell her what was really going on if she offered him her support without all the strings attached.

Whatever happened, it wasn't her turn for a happy ending, not yet.