A/N: Welp, I'm officially living on a college campus now. God knows how I'll juggle classes, studying, college work study program, Muay Thai, Let's Plays, keeping caught up on my gaming, and writing. I can confirm though that this is 4th in priority second only to the academic stuff because that's how much I value you people actually giving a single f#ck about this story o' mine. On an unrelated note why is the last chapter the second most viewed chapter after the prologue? I get maybe some people skipped to Chapter 11 cause they want to get to Eliwood's story but no that's third most viewed after last chapter, meanwhile chapter 1 the 4th most viewed with a mile wide gap between it and Chapter 11. Ya'll are WEIRD.

"Where are we headed, anyways?"

Rebecca sighed. "Pay attention, Bartre, we've told you three times already: Santaruz."

"We can't afford to fight anything more than common bandits with this small a group, we'd have a lot of trouble without further support…" Varric explained.

"...Which is why you suggested Eliwood speak to the Marquese for aid. Sound thinking." Marcus replied.

Varric scratched the back of his head. "Praise means alot coming from someone of your caliber."

A heavyset man with an oily face approached the group, accompanied by two men with lances. "Heh heh heh… Noble sirs, Alms for a poor villager?"

Varric off to the side silently opened his tome and flipped to a page, only Dorcas noticing.

"You look nothing like an honest man!" Marcus scoffed. "Step quickly or I'll have you dead!" he commanded as he stepped protectively in front of Eliwood.

"Step quickly? Sound advice-" the obvious bandit began, but stopped short with his eyes bulging as he grasped in vain at his neck, which had a pitch black shadow around it. Everyone but Dorcas searched wildly for a dark mage, and one by one they realized whose magic it was.

"Call of your men, lest you forfeit your life." Varric said chillingly. The bandit nodded his head as his face turned blue. Varric slackened the grip.

"RETREAT! ALL OF YOU! NOW!" The bandit cried out fearfully and beggingly. One could see from the mountain range a large number of bandits flee in the opposite direction. Varric moved the shadow from the bandit leader's neck to his ankles, binding them together.

"Varric, that was-" Eliwood began, but before he got another word out, Varric interrupted him "Go after the bandits!" Before anyone could question him, a shriek familiar to Dorcas and Varric echoed. "All of you except Dorcas and Bartre, run after them and help whoever's being attacked!"

Marcus looked about to interject, but at the prospect of innocents being killed, Eliwood took out his Rapier. "Everyone, on me!" he called and had Marcus speed him off, Lowen doing the same with Rebecca.

"Nice goin boss, you've really taken your magic up a notch." Dorcas complimented as the bandit leader tried to crawl away, only to have Bartre pin him with a foot on his back.

"I prefer the old fashioned way, but I like your nerve, kid!" Bartre laughed.

"Glad you guys don't think me a freak." Varric replied happily.

Dorcas shook his head. "We don't, but the others certainly didn't take well."

Varric sighed. "Yeah, I was afraid of as much. I never intended to kill the guy-"

"THEN LET ME GO!" the leader cried, sobbing like a child.

Bartre cracked his knuckles. "Not before we beat some info outta ya!"

The bandit leader, now confirmed to be Zagan, lay beaten and bruised unconscious next to Varric and Dorcas who watched the chaos ensuing, as flustered bandits were easily cut down by a pincer attack between Eliwood's group and another group led by a blue haired Lord. Bartre had already run ahead screaming his battle cry.

"Say, Boss, this is kinda like the evening we met." Dorcas said nostalgically.

Varric sighed. "Yeah you're right, with the brutalize maneuver. You and… You and Lyn pulled it off perfectly." he sighed once more, a bit more longingly.

"...I take you really miss her-" Dorcas began, but Varric stood.

"C'mon, the fighting is just about over. Leave the leader to the elements, he's as good as dead considering he failed his employers." With that he ran ahead.

"...need to learn to curb my tongue…" Dorcas muttered regretfully as he followed.

"Hector!" Eliwood called once things had settled. "What are you doing here?!"

Hector dusted his shoulder off. "Well met, Eliwood."

"Y- Yes… but, as I said, what brings you here?!"

"You wound me!" Hector cried. Eliwood was taken aback.

"H-huh?"

"You are searching for your father? And you did not ask for my aid?" Hector asked.

Eliwood sighed. "Your brother was JUST named Marquesse of Ostia. Lord Uther needs all the support he can get, most of all from you! I could not call you away from that!"

Hector grinned. "My brother is not so weak, he bid me farewell on my journey to aid you."

Eliwood smiled wide. "Well then I accept his and your kindness, I dare not turn it down!"

Varric sweatdropped. "All the conversations like these sound straight out of the game, and on the fly they'll switch to talking halfway like me…"

Eliwood noticed the tactician and grabbed him around the shoulder. "Ah, Hector! This is Varric, the strategist from the Caelin incident...as well as the one who gave me that message for your brother…" Eliwood added hesitantly. Varric could feel Hector staring coldly.

"...We've many strategists in Ostia, but none so young. And many of them don't have such deep knowledge of our network."

To Eliwood's surprise, Varric kneeled before Hector, his head bowed. "Forgive my forwardness in that time, but it was crucial that I spoke with my intended audience. Their life hung in the balance, and I am eternally grateful you allowed me the chance to warn her of such danger."

Save Hector himself, everyone else did a double take at the sudden shift in mannerisms on Varric's part.

Hector's gaze softened if only for a moment. "...you have Eliwood's trust, it's only fair I give you a sporting chance! I'll let you show me your skills firsthand! Now stand." Varric did as commanded, realizing just how intimidating the blue haired lord truly was. "Well met Varric-" no sooner had the name escaped Hector's mouth than an ear piercing shriek echoed, and Varric was barreled into by two familiar faces.

"Ohmygodsohmygodsohmygods!" Serra cried. "Varric is it really you?!" Varric struggled to get up. Hector didn't even try to hide his laughter.

Matthew rubbed his head. "Ow, Serra… no need to shove!" In vain he attempted to free his arm.

The cleric completely ignored Matthew. "It's been FAR too long! Did you miss me? Oh, of course you did, who wouldn't? You're not the only one who can use tomes now you know! I can-"

"SERRA!" Matthew interrupted. "Get, OFFA ME!" Serra let out a cry as Matthew shoved her away from pinning his arm. "Gods… Varric, it's been awhile. How's life treating you?"

Varric shook the spy's hand. "Your guidance saved my life more than a few times, I thank you for that."

Matthew laughed. "Honestly, it was as much Leila's plan as it was mine that taught you, I deserve only a portion of the credit." His gaze drifted. "...That's quite the instrument you've got with you."

Varric nodded. "I'll tell you about it when we have a chance to catch up." Varric addressed the whole group. "Everyone, Listen up! Thanks to the cooperation of that bandit leader, I've got important info on what's going on!"

"So Santaruz was in on things, eh?" Hector said menacingly. "We'll have to teach them what happens when you make such a large error as opposing a friend of mine."

A knight in heavy armor tapped Hector on the shoulder. "Please refrain from letting anger get the best of you a second time, Lord Hector." The knight turned to Varric. "I'm sorry to interrupt the debriefing, but I should introduce myself to make things easier. I am Oswin, a knight in service to Lord Uther and guard to Lord Hector. Command me as you see fit."

Varric nodded in thanks.

"By the way, these are, uh...just rumors," Hector began. "But there have been assassin's going around Lycia. They might be connected to all this."

Eliwood rubbed his chin. "Assassins?...that's more than a little troubling…."

Varric and Dorcas exchanged a look before Varric continued. "Yes, the bandits today were hired by a group of assassins who didn't want to dirty their hands if possible. And the Santaruz guards had been paid off to turn a blind eye to Eliwood's death. There should be worse to come."

Bartre cracked his knuckles. "Not gonna lie, I could get used to interrogatin' bandits!"

"Don't be such a brute!" Rebecca scolded.

Dorcas chuckled. "Ignore him Rebecca, he means well."

"Excuse ME…" Bartre muttered.

Varric clapped to get everyone's attention. "Mat, Serra, Dorcas, you can get reacquainted. Meanwhile the rest of us should get ready to move out!"

"RIGHT!"

A/N: Ok so I'm a week into college and yeah this is gonna be hell to juggle. Expect a massive drop in expediency of uploads although I'm still getting writing in. As always any possible feedback is immensely appreciated! Yes this chapter was barebones but there's a reason for that: Multiple intervals coming up! There's gonna be at least two intervals of people catching up. The actual chapter is only the fighting part and all the events and the like at this point f the game are between cause that's when the two groups catch up with one another.